From our industry consultation, FULLER understands that the Fisheries R&D Corporation coordinates a range of leadership courses each year that are designed to enhance the capabilities of mainly younger people.

Some of these courses include a basic media training component, however this is not delivered in a targeted or strategic manner, and there is no additional strategic communications follow-up training.

Any industry requires strong leadership in order to create positive change and to sustain itself in the face of competing environmental, commercial and political pressures.

FULLER believes that outstanding verbal, written and visual communication is critical to the successful leadership and management of any organization, and that the foundation of good communication is an agreed plan.

From our experience media training is more successful if trainees are told “what” to communicate, before they are taught “how” to communicate.

Therefore, while the tender brief calls for a short term solution – media training of industry leaders – it is our recommendation that this People Development Program should start with the development of a strategic communication plan.

This consultative process will help the industry better understand its key communication challenges and opportunities, the messaging it needs to communicate, and the key stakeholders it needs to engage. It will also suggest a wider range of communication tactics than just media – a necessity in this rapidly changing communication landscape (eg web, social media, video, SMS).

On completion of the plan, the subsequent training delivery will be able to introduce these current and future leaders to the big issues facing the industry, the consistent messaging that needs to be employed as well as contemporary public relations tools, including media engagement.

This will create a new breed of professional, proactive seafood leaders who will have a positive and lasting impact on the industry.

Climate change is now a major issue for the Fishing Industry and an area in which the FRDC has become more focused in the past two years. FRDC is now starting to develop a network of researchers and experts to undertaken activities in this field.

Climate change will have many impacts on marine ecosystems, and on human uses of them. Improved scientific support for policy and management decision-making in the face of these potential impacts is essential. In response to this need, interdisciplinary research teams have been formed around the world to analyze data and develop models to explore the likelihood and nature of future ecosystem states and strategies for sustainable use in these future states. To facilitate the advancement of this critical research, ICES, PICES and FAO are holding an international symposium. This symposium will provide a forum for scientists and policymakers to discuss the potential impacts of climate change on marine ecosystems and our uses of these ecosystems, and to consider the strategies that society can take to be prepared for anticipated impacts. Quantitative studies of the potential impact of climate change on fish and fisheries throughout the world will be featured.

It is important that the information form this conference is extended and made available for the fishing industry in Australia.

Energy is currently a major issue for the Fishing Industry and an area in which the FRDC has focused in the past five years. FRDC has developed a good international network to share research outcomes the issue of energy, fuel and improving boat efficiency.

On 20 May 2010, the first major international conference on energy and fishing will be held in Spain. E-Fishing 2010 is the first of a series of biannual conferences devoted to the study of energy efficiency in the fishing world. This symposium aims to be a forum where experts will present the latest advances in research and development aimed at improving the energy efficiency of fishing vessels and systems.

It is important that the informaiton form this conference is extended and made available for the fishing industry in Australia.

Australia requires an effective system of aquatic animal health management to support Australia’s aquatic animal industries (e.g. aquaculture and fisheries, including the aquarium sector) and to protect Australia’s aquatic ecosystems and fauna. To be effective, the system needs well-trained and competent aquatic animal health professionals (including industry) with skill sets across a range of specialist disciplines and an understanding of their disciplines in an industry context. Professionals in this context refers to people working in the field of aquatic animal health including industry.