Improving demonstrated environmental accountability in the Northern Territory fishing industry
During the past three years there has been an increasing interest in and understanding among licensee Associations of the role that environmental performance is playing in the future viability of wild catch fisheries in the Northern Territory.
There are now 8 Associations/Licencee Groups that want to develop Codes of Practice for their fisheries and at least 3 wish to progress to full environmental management systems at this stage, with more considering this.
With the predominantly negative media coverage of the fishing industry in the Northern Territory, the realization of these initiatives by industry will go a significant way towards changing its image within major sections of the community. At the same time, it will facilitate industry’s wish to ensure that it continues to sustainably harvest product as the industry further develops. The initiatives are in line with the strategic management directions of the NT Government.
The difficulty facing industry is that the Seafood Council, which administers all the Associations, does not have the staff to adequately assist these developments. The Seafood Council strongly believes that the relatively small investments over two years to fund a dedicated person to drive the developments at a detailed practical level will pay dividends worth many times the investments for industry, the Northern Territory community and the aquatic resources and ecosystems in waters adjacent to the Northern Territory.
Final report
Project products
Tactical Research Fund: Future seafood leaders: taking stock
In 2000, FRDC funded a project to develop and trial a model for a National Seafood Industry Advanced Leadership Program. Since then approximately 100 people have graduated from the Advance in Seafood Leadership Development Program, significantly enhancing the leadership capacity of the seafood industry.
The current provider contract expires at the end of 2007, and the FRDC is looking toward a review of it's leadership development investments in 2008.
There is a real risk that the significant investments made by FRDC and numerous other program sponsors will be lost if a seafood leadership program is not continued into the future. In the longer term this could potentially lead to a lack of appropriately skilled people to take over representative roles at the national level.
It is therefore opportune to take stock of the previous course and identify areas for improvement to ensure that future leadership programs continue to meet the needs of the seafood industry, and to condiser the establishment of an alumni of past participants to allow effective engagement by the industry. An alumnus would also ensure graduates remain connected and receive continued support from the industry to enable them to develop into leaders.
By developing strategies to encourage industry participation in leadership training it will enhance the leadership capacity of industry. There is also an identified need to have linkages to additional training for graduates.
These key issues and the recent enhancement of the people development program within FRDC, mean that the need for a ‘taking stock’ workshop is timely.
Under the people development program, this project will assist in meeting long-term demand for people who will help the fishing industry meet its future needs and develop leaders among those within and supporting the industry.
Final report
Tactical Research Fund: Moving to a common vision and understanding for equitable access for indigenous, recreational and commercial fishers:- Northern Territory fishing and seafood industry delegation to New Zealand
The ‘Blue Mud Bay’ Court decision found that waters over Aboriginal land are the same as ‘land’ under the Aboriginal Land Rights Act (ALRA) with similar access requirements. This means that ownership of the intertidal zone (including the waters) rests with the indigenous land trusts. This is significant as land granted under the ALRA encompasses over 80% of the NT coastline.
As a result of the decision, existing Fisheries legislation was ruled invalid in the area. Awaiting the High Court appeal, permits under the ARLA have been issued by the NLC to allow fishing to continue in line with previous conditions under the Fisheries legislation.
Traditional owners, commercial and recreational fishers are now actively discussing long-term options and solutions to this situation. If the appeal fails, the NLC offered a 12-month transition period whilst a satisfactory resolution is reached.
This is a unique situation in Australian fisheries and there is significant opportunities to discuss how best to progress the issues at Industry level. It was considered prudent to make contact with people who have extensive experience in incorporating indigenous fishing rights into the fabric of the day to day operations and management of fishing activities and to discuss possible implications arising from future proposals by NT Industry groups. A fact-finding trip, with a view to meeting and discussing issues with a range of groups in NZ, was considered the best course of action.
The trip will enable stakeholders to become aware of best practice resource management use that takes into account indigenous participation in commercial operations, along with recreational use of fish stocks.
The timing of the trip is critical to allow the delegation’s findings to be considered during the decision-making period immediately following the High Court ruling.
Final report
People Development Program: FRDC governance scholarship for women - Katherine Sarneckis
There is a need for coordinated delivery of opportunities to develop goverenance capability in the fishing industry and to promote opportunitites to foster diversity within industry committees and boards.