This project is essential for the continued function and improvement of a cohesive R&D approach aimed at meeting the priority needs of the SBT Aquaculture Industry. The industry had developed rapidly post its initiation in 1991 and has the opportunity to continue to do so beyond 2020. However, targeted R&D is needed to underpin this development and to assure the long-term sustainability of the industry in an increasingly competitive international market. This project is required for the continuation and further development of research in the SBT aquaculture industry, to set and meet objectives, as well as ensuring appropriate inputs and outcomes are delivered to FRDC.
The SBT Research Program is needed to:
- provide the opportunity for an ongoing management structure to oversee active research projects and ensure desired outcomes are achieved;
- set research priorities and develop projects to match priorities;
- minimise the level of research duplication;
- provide a focus for developing SBT aquaculture related research infrastructure;
- provide focused strategy for disseminating research results to industry and other stakeholders;
- address industry priorities and gaps by establishing a mechanism to empower industry's involvement in their research;
- maintain frameworks to ensure that SBT aquaculture research is orderly, targeted and value for money;
- facilitate leadership and training for industry workforce;
- support industry participation in conferences, congresses and forums to enhance industry knowledge of relevant subjects, address threats to industry, expand affiliations with external sectors and increase research networks;
- build cross sectorial relationships within seafood industries , research institutions and the media;
- identify new pathways relevant to future research and the continuing success of the program; and
- provide a mechanism for obtaining feedback for continuous program improvement.

Industry organisations need to build their capacity to meet future challenges and opportunities. Building the skills and confidence for industry to influence is one aspect of capacity that the people development program aims to address through this project, providing opportunity to influence is another.

There is a need for coordinated delivery of opportunities to develop governance capability in the fishing
industry and and to promote opportunitites to foster diversity through succession planning within industry committees and boards.

NEED
This project is essential for cost effective and cohesive R&D aimed at meeting the priority needs of the
highly successful SBT aquaculture industry. While the industry has developed rapidly since its initiation in
1990, R&D is a pivotal requirement to underpin its development and assure the long-term sustainability of
the industry. This project is focused on maintaining an offshore SBT R&D capability.

It involves providing services to support to research activities undertaken on and around offshore commercial tuna farms including managing and coordinating the infrastructure for small scale, experimental, high risk and/or novel research and development activities utilizing live SBT.

These services have been and continue to be required by a range of projects managed by the SBT Aquaculture Subprogram (the specific scientific methods associated with each research project are developed more fully within the relevant project).

This project will:
1) ensure high quality technical services are provided in Port Lincoln to tuna researchers in a coordinated
way. These services are provided for experiments primarily on commercial tuna farms and the waters adjacent to these.
2) ensure that the use of the available resources is optimized and that a minimum level of duplication
occurs;
3) enable the costs associated with these activities to be clearly distinguished;
4) play a key role in communication between researchers and tuna farmers, as the project staff is based in
Port Lincoln, the centre of commercial activities.

This project will provide support for scientists involved in effectively undertaking research using the new commercial (industry) seacage research platform, where research with live tuna will occur on commercial farms. This strategy has the advantage of conducting research in the most appropriate circumstances to achieve the desired outcome. The greater industry involvement in this project, through the involvement of an experienced industry operator, also has the advantage of improving the transfer of research outcomes to industry, involving industry to a greater extent in the evaluation of outcomes, enhancing industry development of innovative technologies and practices to address commercial issues,and disseminating information more representative of their commercial operations. All these aspects are important in facilitating the take up and commercialization of the research outcomes.