This project is focused on improving industry and government preparedness to respond to nationally significant exotic disease outbreaks and in doing so, protect or minimise the impacts of exotic diseases on profitability and productivity. There are national preparedness arrangements in place however (fortunately) many of these have yet to be used in a real-world response, including the AQUAVETPLAN response manuals which outline technical response arrangements and the draft Aquatic Deed which outlines how costs and managing emergency responses will be shared among industry and government. Prospective parties are currently considering whether they will ratify the draft Aquatic Deed. This project is not dependent on whether the deed is ratified and can be adapted to the circumstances of existing response arrangements.

This project addresses the need to test existing contingency planning arrangements for some nationally important exotic diseases to increase shared understanding among industry and governments of their responsibilities and capabilities that they can bring to a response. The main objective is to test arrangements and identify any gaps in peace time for how a response can be undertaken most cost effectively. For governments, this includes understanding operational aspects of industry including assets that could be used for a response. For industry, it includes understanding any gaps in preparedness in particular operational gaps and identifying where and how they could be addressed in peace time.

Scenario-based discussion exercises are a cost-effective way of validating the procedures or processes and are valuable for building the knowledge and preparedness of participating organisations (governments and industry). Conducting a series of exercises based on existing contingency arrangements will contribute to closing the gaps between current capability and current needs and improve levels of preparedness for priority exotic diseases.

Australia needs to update its Benthic Fishing Impact Assessment (BFIA, https://www.apsoi.org/bf-impact) for the Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement (SIOFA), to protect the interests of the members of the Southern Ocean IPA (SO-IPA) with respect to fishing by other nations on the population of Heard Island Patagonian toothfish that extends into the SIOFA Area on William's Ridge. According to the rules of SIOFA, the BFIA must be updated in order for Australia to be permitted to fish this area. Austral Fisheries, as part of this project, will also take the opportunity to further update the BFIA so that the company can be permitted to fish with traps to target lobster (e.g. Jasus paulensis and Palinurus delagoae) in the SIOFA Area. This work entails an updated estimation of the Australian fishing footprint and the risk of direct impacts by planned bottom fishing on VMEs.

The proponents have consulted with AFMA and the Department of Agriculture, and both agencies agree that this project is a priority for delivering the Australian Government Toothfish Strategy.

This EoI meets the objectives of the SO-IPA :
4.1.a: ensuring the Australian Antarctic and Sub-Antarctic fisheries are managed on an ecologically sustainable basis;
4.1.b: investing in targeted RD&E activities that address the following issues:
i: Sustainable development of the fishery and industry;
ii. Security of resource access and property rights;
viii. Australian participation/involvement with international arrangements for resources conservation and management;
ix. Improved biological and ecological understanding of the main target fish species; and
xi. Identify areas of the Australian Antarctic and Sub-Antarctic fisheries where innovation can make significant positive impacts (e.g. new assessment methods).

It also meets the SO-IPA Strategic RD&E investment priority areas:
2. Spatial stock structure and movement dynamics for key species;
5. Assess and determine a wide range of ecological impacts;
11. Improving efficiencies in assessment methodologies and fisheries management taking into account both national and international aspects of the Kerguelen Plateau region;
12. Scope the research, exploration and development of new fisheries.