9 results

Professionalising Industry - NSW Pilot

Project number: 2013-024
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $200,000.00
Principal Investigator: Lowri Pryce
Organisation: OceanWatch Australia Ltd
Project start/end date: 9 Jun 2013 - 31 Jul 2014
Contact:
FRDC
TAGS
Workshop
Workforce
Training
Sustainability
Stakeholder

Need

This application is in response to the priorities identified in the NSW FRAB's recent stakeholder priorities workshop (developing the professional credentials of the NSW Fishermen).

This pilot will assist the NSW SFM Pilot (CRC Project MB079) and SSA EOI (AS015), by ground-truthing the industry on-ground components of the Responsible Fishing Scheme within the NSW context, but will be designed and implemented to keep the national context as a future capability.

In addition, the application is in response to, and addresses the need of, the FRDC R&DE Priorities areas as follows; Program 1: Environment (Theme 4 - Ecologically sustainable development),Program 3: communities (Theme 10 - Resilient and supportive communities) Program 4: People development (Theme 12 - Workforce development) (Theme 13 - Innovation skills) and Program 5: Extension and adoption.

The project will also embrace previous industry development research outputs not extended to stakeholders including the ASIC Code of Conduct for a Responsible Seafood Industry and the Sydney Fish Market Seafood Handling Guidelines, as well as lifting the profile of the existence, contents and benefits of industry adopted codes of practice amongst NSW fishers.

Extension of the project outcomes will also have the potential to provide a mechanism for expressing industry’s values (both individual and as collectives) to communities and other stakeholders, by highlighting the environmental credentials of participating fishermen .

Objectives

1. Gain industry support for uptake of CoPs in NSW and industry training and accreditation
2. After feedback from industry, review and align current NSW Estuary fishery Code of Practice to FAO (international)and ASIC (national) codes -
3. Develop training materials for fishers focussing on fishing practices fishery regulations and environmental best practice aligned with the Seafood Training Package
4. Train NSW SeaNet Officer in Cert 4 Workplace Training and Assessment
5. Deliver training workshops to fishers as a pilot, assess and accredit against training package competencies
6. Acknowledge successful participants as "Master Fishermen"
7. Create interactive database of supporting information
8. extend results of the project to stakeholders and consumers

Final report

Final Report • 729.32 KB
2013-024-DLD.pdf
Environment
Communities

Hoppers in action: a handbook for fishers on the use of hoppers in Australian prawn trawl fisheries

Project number: 2003-012
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $61,311.90
Principal Investigator: Christine Soul
Organisation: OceanWatch Australia Ltd
Project start/end date: 29 Jun 2003 - 17 Jun 2005
Contact:
FRDC
TAGS
Stakeholder
Health And Safety
Fishing Technology
Fishing Gear
Fisheries Management

Need

Research undertaken in the Queensland 'hopper' pilot study and South Australia's Spencer Gulf prawn trawl fishery has suggested that the use of hoppers in prawn trawl operations can enhance the survival of bycatch species. Whilst preliminary results from both the Queensland pilot study and current research in the Spencer Gulf support these suggestions, there exists various views across Australian as to whether hoppers actually do make a positive contribution towards increasing the survival of bycatch species.

Over the last few years, the uptake of hoppers in Australian prawn trawl fisheries has increased, with many vessels in the Northern Prawn, Exmouth Gulf, Spencer Gulf and Gulf of St Vincent prawn trawl fisheries now using hoppers. In most of these fisheries the rate of adoption has been driven by the economic benefits relevant to improved product quality and increased operational efficiencies when using hoppers. However, a coordinated and cooperative review to determine and quantify the effects of hoppers has not been undertaken.

NORMAC’s Bycatch Action Plan has identified research into the effects of hoppers on bycatch survival as a ‘high priority’. The East Coast Trawl Plan also includes the need to reduce bycatch by 40% by 2005 and flags that hoppers could assist this target. SARDI have proposed that hoppers, used as part of a suite of bycatch mitigation strategies, could improve bycatch survival. NSW estuary prawn trawl operators supported the concept of hoppers and the need for further research into hoppers was identified as a 'high priority' at the Estuary Prawn Trawl MAC meeting held at NSW Fisheries in July 2002.

Both CSIRO and SARDI submitted industry-supported hopper focused research applications into their respective FRABs for this current round of FRDC funding. Both proposals included the involvement of SeaNet officers to facilitate industry involvement in documenting the current use and understanding of hopper operations and assist with the extension of information across identified target fisheries.

An independently facilitated workshop was held in September 2002 to bring together industry and research stakeholders from both Commonwealth and State prawn trawl fisheries in WA, SA, NSW and Queensland (East Coast Trawl and Torres Strait) to progress the development of a national hopper R&D framework. Outcomes from the workshop supported the need of a coordinated national project approach to be developed, with respect to future research, education and communication activities relevant to hoppers.

Objectives

1. Undertake a national and international literature review of existing knowledge and technology relevant to the use/research of hoppers and document and identify research gaps.
2. Document, via a technical handbook, the use, designs, practices associated with the existing use of hoppers across Australian prawn trawl fisheries.
3. Hold a technical workshop to facilitate the development of a technical handbook which overviews hopper technology, provides advice on improving operational practices, case studies existing developments and includes the results of the literature review.
4. Extend the handbook to fishers via a series of key port visits.
5. Provide information to fishery and environmental managers and the general community on existing mechanisms used by industry to improve operational practices.
6. Provide guidance and advice to industry and fishery managers about R&D priorities relevant to improving and extending hopper use and technology within Australian prawn trawl fisheries.

Final report

ISBN: 0-9750797-4-3
Author: Christine Soul
Final Report • 2005-04-16 • 269.87 KB
2003-012-DLD.pdf

Summary

This project has provided an opportunity to consolidate all literature currently available on existing knowledge and technology relevant to the use/research of hoppers.  It has demonstrated that there are clear gaps in the research and that it is imperative that further work be undertaken to identify and quantify the environmental benefits of hoppers for bycatch survival

The handbook is a useful resource for fishers, researchers, managers and conservationists on the use, designs and practices associated with the existing use of hoppers across Australian prawn trawl fisheries.  It offers a simple and yet effective presentation of the existing mechanisms used by industry to improve operational practices and reduce environmental impacts.

Project products

Handbook • 4.46 MB
2003-012 Hoppers in Australian Trawl Fisheries A Handbook for Fishers.pdf

Summary

This handbook aims to:
• detail the design, operation and use of hoppers (back deck water tanks/sorting devices) in trawl fisheries across Australia;
• enable the sharing of industry knowledge on hoppers among fishers from all Australian trawl fisheries;
• provide readily accessible information to fishers on the use and application of hoppers;
• facilitate the broader adoption among trawl fisheries of best practice use of hoppers. In fisheries where hoppers are not yet widely used but may be useful, help stimulate the development and uptake of new and suitable hopper designs; and
• provide a tool to inform and educate the general community, fisheries and environmental managers about the initiatives developed and adopted by Australian trawl fisheries to reduce the impacts of trawling on the aquatic environment, and to work towards achieving sustainable operating practices and improved economic efficiency.

This handbook is primarily a technical handbook for fishers. It is also however, a useful resource for others interested in the environmental management of Australian trawl fisheries.

The information presented in this handbook has been obtained through interviews and discussions with many trawl fishers across Australia, hopper manufacturers and through surveys conducted with fishers, researchers, fishing companies and other industry bodies.

Workshop to develop a national strategy for hopper R&D in Australian prawn trawl fisheries

Project number: 2002-100
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $10,000.00
Principal Investigator: Christine Soul
Organisation: OceanWatch Australia Ltd
Project start/end date: 3 Sep 2002 - 1 Jul 2003
Contact:
FRDC
TAGS
Sustainability
Stakeholder
Innovation
Fishing Gear
Fisheries Management

Need

It has been suggested that the use of hoppers in prawn trawl fisheries can minimise the effects on bycatch species. Preliminary results from both the Queensland pilot study and research in SA’s Spencer Gulf Prawn trawl fishery support these suggestions. The uptake of hoppers in Australian prawn trawl fisheries is increasing, however, a coordinated and cooperative research approach to quantitatively determine the effects of hoppers has not been attempted.NORMAC’s Bycatch Action Plan has identified research into the effects of hoppers on bycatch survival as a ‘high priority’. The East Coast Trawl Plan also includes the need to reduce bycatch by 40% by 2005 and flags that hoppers could assist achieve this target. SARDI have proposed that hoppers, used as part of a suite of bycatch mitigation devices, could improve bycatch survival.

Objectives

1. Coordinate and run a facilitated workshop to identify and document a national approach for research on hoppers in Australian trawl fisheries
2. Develop a framework to deliver a coordinated and cooperative national hopper research project
3. Identify and bring together key project stakeholders from research and industry to develop this framework

Final report

Author: Christine Soul
Final Report • 2003-06-25 • 108.86 KB
2002-100-DLD.pdf
Environment
PROJECT NUMBER • 2003-063
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

Adoption of an environmental management systems by NSW commercial estuary fishers and oyster farmers

This project has provided estuary fishers and oyster farmers across NSW with an opportunity to develop an Environmental Management System (EMS), based on ISO 14001 Environmental Management Systems for their businesses. The main driver for each group to develop an EMS was primarily improving...
ORGANISATION:
OceanWatch Australia Ltd
TAGS
Stakeholder
Estuarine
Communications
Aquaculture
SPECIES
Sydney Rock Oyster
Pacific Oyster

Seafood Industry Partnerships in Schools - Phase 2 Program

Project number: 2012-302
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $150,000.00
Principal Investigator: Lowri Pryce
Organisation: OceanWatch Australia Ltd
Project start/end date: 16 Apr 2012 - 27 Feb 2014
Contact:
FRDC
TAGS
Education
Community
Aquaculture

Need

Lack of knowledge by community has contributed to poor perception of industry and negative community attitudes. Teachers are ill-informed about industry’s efforts to operate in a sustainable manner; once informed-they incorporate better knowledge into their teaching program. The long-term benefits for industry with a better informed community are considerable.
The SIPS-Tasmanian-Pilot indicated teachers have difficulty accessing information about the marine environment, sustainable fishing/marine farm practices, and post-harvest sector. Developing/delivering this information within a metropolitan context is a key challenge of this program. Fishermen/Farmers and the post harvest sector are seeking avenues to engage with their local community to secure their social licence to operate - this program gives them a community a voice and a connection with the next generation. An informed community can actively engage in debate around issues affecting industry and the seafood supply - particularly at point-of-sale. Delivering this information to schoolchildren and teachers in a metropolitan context is key.
With the assistance and support of key groups such as the Sydney Fish Market, Master Fish Merchants of Australia, and NSW Fishermens’ Cooperative Association, and our in-house experience of working with the NSW Department of Education, and with various state-based teachers associations on our 'Our Valuable Estuaries' projects - OceanWatch Australia has the ability, determination and support of industry, to make this project succeed.

Objectives

1. Facilitate new and existing educational partnerships between schools and industry operators.
2. Increase community understanding of the complexities of marine resource utilisation
3. Increase industry capacity to tell its sustainability story to the community

Final report

Author: Lowri Pryce
Final Report • 2014-02-12 • 452.33 KB
2012-302-DLD.pdf
Final Report • 2014-02-15 • 452.33 KB
2012-302-DLD.pdf

Developing environmental management standards for the Australian seafood industry

Project number: 2000-146
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $229,841.00
Principal Investigator: Phil March
Organisation: OceanWatch Australia Ltd
Project start/end date: 29 Jun 2000 - 27 May 2005
Contact:
FRDC
TAGS
Fisheries Management
Awareness

Need

The seafood industry is acutely aware that the community has become increasingly sceptical about assurances from industry and government regarding the state of the environment generally and in particular the environmental performance of industries which interact with the natural environment.

Development of nationally and internationally recognised environmental management standards using the SeaQual Australia process will assist to:
. achieve significant cultural change within the fishing and associated industries;
. focus the industry clearly on continuous improvement of its environmental performance; and
. gain international and domestic recognition that the industry is operating within environmental standards appropriate for the marine environment.

This project is an opportunity for governments and industry to lead the way internationally with the development and implementation of fisheries environmental standards which will engender public confidence in the way fisheries and the marine environment generally are being managed and that fisheries resources are being used sustainably.

To achieve this there is an urgent need to develop an environmental management system framework which provides realistic and achievable options for environmental accreditation/certification for each of the diverse range of fisheries in Australia. Such a framework needs to be also supported by access to tools and expertise to assist each fishery to determine appropriate environmental management systems for that fishery and to help the fishery to commence the journey of continued improvement in environmental performance (See Attachment 1).

This project will build on initiatives such as Greening Australia's Fisheries, SeaNet and SeaQual Australia to ensure that research outcomes relating to environmental performance are adopted by industry within an appropriate context.

Working together, SeaQual Australia, operating as part of Seafood Services Australia, will provide resources and guidance in the development of a "green chooser" and other products (including environmental management standards development) while SeaNet will provide the all important face-to-face assistance with using such products and with ensuring that their development is soundly based on industry needs.

Building on the work being undertaken by SCFA in relation to Fisheries ESD indicators, this project will commence the development of environmental management standards which can be assessed by independent 3rd party auditors.

While this project has been identified under the industry development program of FRDC it is extremely relevant to the other two FRDC programs eg achieving resource sustainability through fisheries management improvement. Continued improvement of the industry's environmental performance will be key outcomes of the project. This project is also targeted to address State priorities identified by the State FRABs. In all cases improving environmental performance is a high priority. The priorities identified by the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture will also be addressed.

This project provides a unique opportunity to ensure that research results and outcomes are adopted and implemented to the satisfaction of all stakeholders. By working closely with the SCFA ESD reference group, the development of ESD indicators (SCFA project) and the tools required to assist industry stakeholders to meet them (this project) can occur in a systematic pragmatic way and assist in achievement of the desired outcomes.

Objectives

1. To provide a framework and support to enable fisheries in Australia to determine and achieve an appropriate level of environmental accreditation/certification through implementation of an environmental management system relevant to each fishery underpinned by a commitment to continuous improvement.
2. Expand the capacity for SeaNet to provide expertise and assistance to industry groups in improving their management practices and in positioning themselves to implement appropriate environmental management systems and standards for their fisheries.
3. To develop a support tool to guide decisions on appropriate environmental management systems ie "a SeaQual green chooser".
4. To develop nationally and internationally recognised prerequisites for environmental management standards adopted by fisheries throughout Australia.
5. To identify, document and disseminate environmental best practice technologies and techniques to fisheries.

Report

ISBN: 0 9775587 5 4
Report • 644.80 KB
Seafood EMS - Recipes for Success.pdf

Summary

The purpose of this report is to illustrate the value of EMS as a management tool for seafood businesses to achieve their environmental, economic and social goals and in achieving broader natural resources management goals associated with fishing and aquaculture as well as demonstrating to the community the seafood industry’s environmental credentials.

The report targets existing and potential industry leaders, facilitators and training providers and government officials who have a desire to be involved in the continued development of the seafood industry through EMS.

Project products

Manual • 3.17 MB
Seafood EMS - Self-assessment and Training Manual.pdf

Summary

This Seafood EMS Self-assessment and Training Manual, including the Seafood EMS worksheets, its companion, the Seafood EMS Assessor’s Guide, the Seafood EMS Communication Kit and the Seafood EMS CD provide the seafood industry with a national program for EMS training and assessment.

This manual helps you through the development and implementation of an EMS that meets the needs of your seafood business.

Case study • 1.78 MB
Seafood EMS - Walking the Talk - Seafood EMS Case Studies.pdf

Summary

Seafood Services Australia Ltd is proud to bring you, in this publication and others in the series of Seafood EMS Resources, the distilled wisdom of the industry leaders who have pioneered seafood environmental management systems in Australia.

The Seafood EMS Resources result from an intensive R&D program made possible by the Australian Government’s investment of $1.65 million of Natural Heritage Trust funds through industry partnership programs, including the EMS National Pilot and Pathways to Industry EMS programs. The seafood industry invested $3 million in-kind in these latter two programs.

This R&D capitalised on the innovative strategic investments in environmental management systems in the seafood industry by the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation, with strong support from the Australian seafood industry.

The industry has earned a leading reputation around the world and among other primary industries for these ground-breaking initiatives and its enthusiastic uptake of seafood EMS. By using the Seafood EMS Resources, you’re taking advantage of the best EMS experience currently available.

Guide • 1.32 MB
Seafood EMS - Assessor's Guide.pdf

Summary

Environmental sustainability is a high priority for the Australian seafood industry and the Australian Government. It can only be achieved through the collaborative efforts of everyone involved in the industry. 

Seafood Services EMS initiatives have been made possible by the Fisheries Development Corporation’s investment in the development and extension of the Seafood EMS model in SSA itself. The guide has been developed under the EMS Pathways for the Seafood Industry project1 funded by the Natural Heritage Trust to assist fishers, aquaculturists and seafood post harvest businesses to embrace environmental sustainability through the development and implementation of environmental management systems (EMSs). 

The Seafood EMS program has been especially designed to help seafood industry people to develop and implement an EMS that meets their needs. The training component is covered in The Seafood EMS Self-assessment and Training Manual. The EMS may involve a group of seafood businesses with common interests, or it may involve only one business. Participants in the program may undertake it independently or they may work with a facilitator. Whatever the pathway, participants will gain new skills and knowledge and as this learning is shared with colleagues and workplace members it will spread throughout the seafood industry. The Seafood EMS Assessor’s Guide provides a process by which participant EMS skills and knowledge can be Recognised against national industry EMS competency standards.

The value in having knowledge and skills recognised against an external standard is appealing to more and more people in industry. With recognition comes personal satisfaction and for some, career opportunities. For the workplace it promotes a learning culture which in turn fosters further learning and sharing of knowledge. Recognition can be useful for third party audits and for meeting market protocols. For the industry, it increases the capacity for growth through expansion, improvement and marketing opportunities, and helps achieve resource security for future generations.

Guide • 10.95 MB
Seafood EMS - Communication Kit.pdf

Summary

Have you ever wished the seafood industry had a better reputation? This Seafood Communication EMS Kit can help us achieve just that.

Designed to provide you with the ‘who, what, when, where, why and how’ of communication, this guide uses the eight developmental steps for Seafood Environmental Management Systems (EMS) from the Seafood EMS Chooser to provide a framework for communication activities.

The kit is flexible so that you can decide what type of communication is best suited to your group at different stages of the EMS process.

Different groups will have people with varying levels of skill and experience in relation to event organisation, working with the media and communication in general. This means you need to assess the experience your group has with communication as soon as you start the process. Based on this assessment, you may decide to undergo some basic training (for example - learning how to work with the media).

Publication • 812.56 KB
The Seafood EMS Chooser.pdf

Summary

Our industry’s future, and access to the natural resources used by fisheries and aquaculture, will depend increasingly on our capacity to demonstrate that we are utilising these resources in a sustainable, responsible way.

More and more seafood industry businesses and organisations are setting up environmental management systems (EMSs) to improve — and demonstrate — good environmental performance. In the process, they are increasing their profits and improving their relations with the community.

An EMS can help you to gain access to the latest and best knowledge, to be innovative, and to reap the benefits of adopting the best and most efficient industry practices. Fisheries and aquaculture enterprises that want to achieve greater self-management can also use their EMS to demonstrate a standard of achievement that meets the needs of regulators within a self-managed system.

The Seafood EMS Chooser is the first step in deciding on what should be in your EMS. It provides you with an overview of what’s involved, without going into too much detail. When you have the big picture, it’s time to move on to the Seafood EMS Resources —manuals, a CD-ROM and a website — which will take you through step-by-step.

Your EMS won’t be based on a “one size fits all” model — the Seafood EMS Chooser outlines the various choices you will make to meet your goals and tailor your EMS to your unique, day-to-day business activities. Similarly, your journey along the EMS path will be far from lonely — people who have already implemented EMSs are keen to pass on their experience, and industry trainers can help you to quickly acquire EMS skills and access government training assistance.

Workshop • 2.25 MB
Seafood EMS - Worksheets.pdf

Summary

These worksheets have been prepared to assist with the creation of an EMS.
Report • 595.78 KB
Seafood EMS - Engagement of Seafood Stakeholders.pdf

Summary

The following report outlines the results of a study undertaken by Rural Solutions SA and Corvel Marketing and Management to identify the key requirements for engaging seafood stakeholders in environmental management systems for the seafood industry.

Surveys, interviews, literature reviews and focus group activities were undertaken to gauge the key factors for engagement. This guided a recommended process for ensuring successful engagement with identified tools that can be considered in future engagement processes. It is important to note here that the project team had difficulty in attaining responses from various seafood stakeholders and what is presented and used in the production of this report and the associated recommendations is taken to be representative of the seafood industry and its associated stakeholder groups.

Final Report • 2005-05-11 • 3.01 MB
2000-146-DLD.pdf

Summary

Environmental management systems in the seafood industry are gradually gaining acceptance as a means by which industry operators can pursue and demonstrate sustainable development; outcomes at the enterprise, regional and/or fishery level, and assist to build community confidence in the way that Australian fisheries resources are managed and accessed.

In response to this, the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC) funded Ocean Watch Australia Ltd (Ocean Watch) and SSA Ltd (SSA) to develop a framework and guidance material to assist industry groups and individual enterprises to adopt a systems approach to environmental management. This project was managed by Ocean Watch on behalf of the Australian Seafood Industry Council (ASIC).

The environmental management systems framework and guidance material, including the "Seafood EMS Chooser" and "Seafood EMS Step by Step Guide" were developed and refined through a case study process involving industry associations whose members participate in wild capture fisheries.

The five industry associations that formally participated in the case study process were:

  • Queensland Rock Lobster Industry Association (QLD);
  • Hawkesbury Trawl Association Inc (NSW);
  • East Gippsland Estuarine Fishers Association Inc (Vic);
  • Abalone Industry Association of South Australia (SA); and
  • South West Rocks Beach Haulers Association Inc (NSW).

Other industry groups and individual enterprises contributed in a more informal manner. The case study process was facilitated by SeaNet the environmental extension service for the Australian seafood industry administered by Ocean Watch, whose officers provided face to face assistance to participating industry associations in the form of background research and documentation of management system components. This case study process also produced examples of 'live’ EMS components, including a risk assessment, Environmental Action Plan, policy and code of conduct, providing a foundation upon which the participating industry associations can further develop and implement their management systems.

Keywords: Environmental Management Systems

Environment
View Filter

Research

Species

Organisation