There is a needed to increase the understanding of the development of human capital, and the linkages between HRP and performance, for the ongoing advancement of the Australian aquaculture industry.

Tasmanian Seafoods Pty. Ltd. aims to double the current production of sea cucumbers through ranching/stock enhancement initiatives. This commitment is demonstrated by the history of investment by TSF over the past 5 years. To ensure the commercial viability of this enterprise there are researchable constraints to be addressed. These are within the broodstock maintenance. Currently, hatchery production relies on the seasonal supply of ripe broodstock from pond facilities or the wild. Attempts to mature sandfish broodstock in tanks have so far been unsuccessful and broodstock held in tanks for periods of greater than one month have declined in condition (Morgan, 2000). Recently however, anecdotal evidence suggests that under the right conditions it is possible for adult sandfish to mature in tanks and be used for hatchery production of juvenile sandfish. Identifying the factors and requirements for the maturation of broodstock H. scabra in controlled systems could enable year round supply of eggs for hatchery production and reduce the seasonal constraints on juvenile supply for ranching and stock enhancement programs in the NT.
The success rates reported for induced spawning events for sandfish are low (0-35%) increasing around peak natural spawning times (Battaglene et al., 2002). This poses a significant economic constraint to the company’s aim to develop the capacity to produce 300,000 juveniles annually for release programs. Research into the molecular signalling and communication involved during spawning could improve induction efficiencies and may lead to the identification and development of a hormonal spawning inducer for sandfish.

East Coast Trawl Fishery (ECTF) involves fishers, agent and/or wholesaler, processors, various industry and government organisations and retailers. The lack of collaboration and production activities due to the lengthy coast and long distance between trawl areas along with a multi species fishery has resulted in the fishery becoming (i) a production focused industry and (ii) location oriented rather than whole of state or whole of fishery oriented industry. Consequently, intense competition exists within East Coast Trawl throughout the whole supply and value chain. This has been exacerbated by the decline in the value of Queensland prawn production over the past five years caused by record high fuel costs; labour shortages; competition from imported product and the strong Australian dollar. Furthermore, ACPF have identified a whole of industry approach as a research priority with an objective to identify a specific opportunity/strategy to pursue, not as individual fishers, but as a collective fishery. This project aims to develop a framework and benchmark case study to identify the leadership qualities and commitment within the ECTF. The implementation of a market opportunity/strategy will assess the identified ECTF leadership group and the network’s ability to increase long term profitability for the fishery.
The industry has identified and agreed to the need to develop collaboration within the fishery to leverage existing and future market opportunities. The understanding and building of industry social capital to support internal leadership through a network analysis is seen as fundamental to the development, coordination and implementation of a market approach for the industry.

The CRC now has a wealth of current information about various aspects of Australians seafood consumption. The issue now is how to get this information out to the various stakeholders in the Seafood industry in such a format that companies can use the results in a very practical way to improve their returns and ensure their continued sustainability.

This education module has been designed to be practical, flexible and widely disseminated and so fulfil needs in several ways as follows:

• The module has been designed based on a transformational learning model, that is, a model where participants are required to reflect on their current practices and behaviours and then based on information provided, plan operational changes to maximise firm benefits.

• The module is being designed for delivery in two formats, face-to-face and digitally/online to maximise the potential audience reached. The online materials will provide access for those who cannot attend face-to-face sessions, as well as providing an ongoing resource for those who do attend face-to-face.

• The face-to-face component will be delivered in a mix of capital cities and regional locations to maximise exposure to where industry is actually located. This multimodal approach is designed to ensure the widest possible dissemination of results as well as providing face-to-face participants with a resource than can use within their own organisations.

China is a significant market for ACA members and one where significant investment is already directed. China is a rapidly growing and rapidly changing market providing many challenges to ACA members wishing to develop sustainable business relationships as traditional supply chains to China are changing providing opportunities for Australian abalone product to enter Beijing direct being positioned as a premium quality product.

Consequently there is a need to develop both a research capacity and an industry skill base to enable the rapidly emerging opportunities for ACA exports to China. This project proposes a China research field trip involving 5 research students, 1 industry representative, 1 research internship student who is already working collaboratively with ACA focusing on a specific market sector for ACA in Beijing and the research Leader Dr Joanne Freeman. The market research field trip will be complemented by a formal education framework to enable both a commercial and academic perspective to be taken. The team as a whole whould gain a greater awareness of the role and significance of the Chinese seafood industry and how this awareness relates to opportunities for ACA members.

The market research field trip will provide industry participants and research students with the ability to compare and contrast markets (Australia and China) and to prepare actionable interpretive reports based on research findings. Furthermore, industry and students will attain an appreciation of a foreign culture as well as an awareness of cross cultural influences on business relevant to the Australian seafood industry.

This project also provides the opportunity for students to link with industry as a way of creating more "industry-ready" graduates.