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Research, Development and Extension Strategic Planning Workshop for NSW Commercial Fishing Industry

Project number: 2017-077
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $23,783.42
Principal Investigator: Tricia Beatty
Organisation: Professional Fishers Association (PFA)
Project start/end date: 11 Dec 2017 - 3 Jun 2018
Contact:
FRDC

Need

The NSW RAC intention is to utilize each sectors R&D Strategic Plans to form a component of the NSW RAC Plan. The NSW Commercial Fishing R&D Strategic Plan is outdated and no longer relevant.

Strategic planning is central to the ensuring funding of research, develop and extension is prioritized and meets industry needs. A five year plan will guide investment in R,D & E, and each year the Fisheries Research Advisory Committee needs to scan its business environment and review its RD&E activities to ensure its portfolio is balanced, well directed and meets the needs of the NSW commercial fishing industry.

To ensure that the FRDC's RD&E investment is undertaken with reference to the priorities of the NSW commercial fishing industry a strategic plan must be developed through extensive consultation with key stakeholders and the PFA.

The PFA has identified that a industry workshop should be held to understand the research and development needs for the NSW commercial fishing industry and information gaps. The PFA proposes that a R&D Strategic Plan is needed for the NSW commercial fishing industry to ensure relevant and strategic priorities are set for the industry.

Objectives

1. The development and publication of a Strategic Plan for R&D in NSW that incorporates a process for continuous improvement in the identification of change in R&D priorities and communication between stakeholders.

Final report

ISBN: 978-1-925982-08-4
Author: Tricia Beatty
Final Report • 2019-12-01 • 1.48 MB
2017-077-DLD.pdf

Summary

This project is aimed to develop a New South Wales (NSW) Commercial Wild Catch Fishing Industry research Development & Extension (RD&E) Strategic Plan for 2018-2023 to ensure relevant and strategic priorities are set for the industry. The plan was based on the development of a draft plan through an industry workshop that included relevant industry and commercial fishing experts with the draft plan than distributed further for a more extensive consultation process amongst industry. Once the RD&E Strategic Plan (Appendices 1) was finalised it was then provided to relevant bodies including FRDC, the NSW RAC and the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI).
 
This plan is an essential component for all future directions regarding research, development and extension funding priorities for the NSW commercial wild catch fishing industry over the next five years.

A copy is also available from the PFA website (http://www.nswpfa.com.au/)
Industry
PROJECT NUMBER • 2015-039
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

National Workshop to mitigate theft of estuarine pots.

The NSW Professional Fishermen’s Association in conjunction with the Fisheries Research Development Corporation organised an intensive workshop with a wide representation of participants from across Australia aimed at addressing issue of theft of and from estuarine...
ORGANISATION:
Professional Fishers Association (PFA)
SPECIES

Trade Mission: Creating a niche market for the supply of NSW Wild Caught mixed finfish to China through the GFresh B to B E-commerce platform

Project number: 2016-173
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $11,593.64
Principal Investigator: Tricia Beatty
Organisation: Professional Fishers Association (PFA)
Project start/end date: 9 Jul 2017 - 29 Jun 2018
Contact:
FRDC

Need

A major export challenge for NSW professional fishing companies has been the perceived need to have large volumes of a single species that can be sold in bulk on commodity markets. The emergence of e-commerce platforms and the consequent shortening of the supply chain has created opportunities to develop niche markets for seafood products that have not been traditionally exported to China.
The Seafood CRC undertook a large research project on the China market and the information gained through that project is now available through the FRDC. The learnings from the Abalone and Rock Lobster industry about the changing demographics and the changing expectation of consumers in those markets has identified the potential for developing smaller niche markets within China.
Australia’s competitive advantage for seafood is not only its clean and green image but also the fact that we have a huge variety of sustainably wild caught seafood products. This matches the increased demand from China for such products. The GFresh B-to-B E-commerce platform is relatively new (has been operating for two years) and has mainly focused on live high value product traded globally with China. As such it is the leading B2B e-commerce platform for seafood. GFresh is looking to expand its platform to include other forms of seafood including chilled and frozen products.
The current industry reform being rolled out in NSW has created an imperative for NSW Professional Fishing companies to add value to their businesses and developing a niche export market, capitalising on the changes to the export infrastructure that will support such a development, is a good opportunity to do this.

Objectives

1. To conduct a trade mission to China to introduce representatives from the involved fishermen's cooperatives to the Chinese Seafood Market and discuss needs to deliver the quality and quantity required by the market
2. Explore the potential of utilizing a E-commercial tool such as GFresh to supply the Chinese Seafood Market

Final report

Authors: Tricia Beatty Jayne Gallagher
Final Report • 2019-09-01 • 2.82 MB
2016-173-DLD.pdf

Summary

The Fisheries Research & Development Corporation (FRDC), the Sydney Fish Market and the Australia– China Agricultural Cooperation Agreement (ACACA) program agreed to fund the Professional Fishermen’s Association (PFA) proposed trade mission to China to explore the concept of the supply of mixed seafood between NSW commercial fishers and China utilising an E-commerce tool. The mission was invaluable to: 
• Explore the concept and its potential;
• Establish essential networks and contacts;
• Understand practical supply issues; and
• Discuss legality issues regarding the supply of permitted and non-permitted species to China.
The trade mission was able to meet our objectives. There is an undoubtable opportunity in the concept and development of this market to China with significant positive benefits to the Australian seafood industry. The creation of a more stable market that can handle the substantial fluctuations in the supply of specific Australian seafood species as well as the willingness of the Chinese market to pay for high quality products linked strongly to providence marketing and tourism. The PFA currently trialling the supply of Live Eels to China via GFRESH as of February 2018 (FRDC 2018-087) – an agreement that was explored and discussed through the trade mission conducted as a part of this project. 
The PFA strongly believes that there is an opportunity to market the supply of Australian mixed finfish China. Further investigation into the opportunity of supplying the Chinese seafood market is needed by conducting research into the infrastructure chain to supply the E-commerce platform such as GFRESH or JD FRESH (the fresh food arm of Chinese e-commerce platform JD.com). As well as the marketing and brand recognition requirements to establish a long term and highly sought seafood brand to China. 

Tactical Research Fund: Development of an industry representative framework for co-management in NSW Fisheries

Project number: 2013-226
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $38,800.00
Principal Investigator: Neil MacDonald
Organisation: Professional Fishers Association (PFA)
Project start/end date: 29 Oct 2013 - 28 Feb 2014
Contact:
FRDC

Need

At present there is no established body for commercial fishers in NSW that can claim to be a representative body of all or at best the majority of fishery licence holders. The PFA currently represents 340 voluntary commercial fishers (approx 1/3 of the industry).

In order to meet the requirements for a representative body to service the industry's licence holders through the reform process and future proposed co-management processes, being established in NSW, it is necessary to develop a framework for licence holder and regional engagement.

There is a need to engage the industry in the development of the industry's component of the co-management framework and to establish the operational requirements of the representative body that services those industry structures and processes, as no such structures and processes exist at present that meets either the Government's or the Industry's requirements.

It has been identified by the Independent Report of the NSW Commercial Fishing Industry and the Government's response to this report that there is a critical need to have a co-ordinated and regional approach to engaging licence holders and fishery sector interests. This is significantly highlighted in discussions of the NSW industry need for co-management arrangements to be developed.

The PFA wishes to ensure that, if it was to modify its structure in response to the NSW Government consultation contract, it does so with an effective and robust governance structure that addresses the needs of the industry and the requirements of the NSW Government.

Objectives

1. Review the legislative requirements for a representative body under the co-management framework against the current organisational governance arrangements of the PFAI
2. Engage NSW Fisheries and the PFAI to ensure any structures meet their needs and expectations for the representative body
3. Engage licence holders and regional industry groups in the development of models for industry engagement at a local, regional and statewide level
4. Develop governance structures and processes that will deliver the necessary level of industry engagement to ensure the co-management processes have credibility
5. Develop communications processes that will enable effective flow of information to and from licence holders to ensure the integrity of any outcomes or recommendations fed into the co-management process
6. Recommend any governance or institutional changes needed to meet requirements for the separation of the member based representative body roles from the services provided under the co-management process

Final report

ISBN: 978-0-9808042-2-5
Author: Neil MacDonald
Final Report • 2015-06-05 • 1.50 MB
2013-226-DLD.pdf

Summary

The Professional Fishermen’s Association (PFA) was borne out of concern about the future of the commercial fishing industry in NSW. Concern was primarily on the decline in their long term rights to harvest seafood on the behalf of the community.

While the PFA has grown and delivered an effective service to its members, there continues to be a range of issues that constrain its ability to represent the industry at large, as well as, being formally recognised as the voice of the Industry. 

This project is intended to build upon previous studies by C Bishop and P Neville assessing the issues needed to support a peak industry body in NSW. It also sought to identify the issues that will enable the PFA, or a similar body, to be recognised as the representative organisation for the industry in NSW. Further it would provide advice on options for development of co-management frameworks that will enhance industry participation in the consultative processes established by government.

The project included a review of previous advice to government and the Industry on options for the structure of a peak industry body. A review of the co-management processes, roles and funding of the peak industry bodies in Australian jurisdictions was also undertaken. Additionally, it engaged industry members in meetings to identify their thoughts and consideration of options for approaches by the industry and enhanced engagement with government.

Keywords: co-management, peak industry body, leadership, fisheries management, governance, representative body, Professional Fishermen’s Association, PFA

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