11 results
Industry

Seafood CRC: Professional Fishing Certificate - A CRC legacy - phase 1 - industry demand

Project number: 2012-700
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $53,250.00
Principal Investigator: John C. Harrison
Organisation: Western Australian Fishing Industry Council Inc (WAFIC)
Project start/end date: 31 Jul 2013 - 30 Dec 2013
Contact:
FRDC

Need

Butchers have apprenticeships, so do bakers and, for all we know, candlestickmakers do, but not the commercial fishing industry. To be a commercial fisherman all one has to do is enter the Department of Fisheries, put down $80 and that's it. You can then get on any fishing vessel, go to see for days - even months, work with winches, trawl boards, haulers, pots, nets and other gear in all weathers, process fish and even navigate the vessel, all without any qualifications at all. This MUST change if the industry is to be taken seriously. WAFIC intends the industry to be fully professional.

Objectives

1. To determine, with industry, the core competencies for a PFC

Final report

ISBN: 978-0-9756045-4-0
Author: John Harrison
Final Report • 2014-11-03 • 416.88 KB
2012-700-DLD.pdf

Summary

Three hundred fishermen across the majority of West Australian fisheries surveyed to help identify the core competencies considered appropriate for a Professional Fisherman’s Certificate.

Fishermen were interviewed in the field and then completed an online survey. Respondents were asked to rank in order of importance core units and competencies within the Certificate 2, 3, & 4 Fishing Operations and the Diploma of Marine Studies they thought were important to include in a Professional Fisherman’s Certificate. Interestingly most respondents did not value competencies that would aim to address some of the public perception issues and put more value on improving and developing vessel and deck skills, although deckhands were more likely to see the benefit of including public perception issues in the certificate. There was considerable support to including units from the current maritime training package STCW 95 course.

While there was almost unanimous in principle support for a Professional Fisherman’s Certificate, only 25% of fishermen indicated they would be willing to undertake further training or assessment to obtain certification. Most respondents felt the certificate should be aimed towards deckhands while those deckhands interviewed felt skippers would also benefit. Most skippers thought they already had experience on-the-job and did not see the value for them, unless they received the certificate through “grandfathering”.

Tactical Research Fund: maximising benefits of ITQ management in the Western rocklobster fishery

Project number: 2010-317
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $75,000.00
Principal Investigator: Guy Leyland
Organisation: Western Australian Fishing Industry Council Inc (WAFIC)
Project start/end date: 30 Sep 2010 - 5 Dec 2010
Contact:
FRDC

Need

The Western Rock Lobster fishery is one of Australia’s most valuable commercial fishery generating a landed value of $191.6 million in 2009.

Rising costs, a strong Australian dollar, increased competition, environmental challenges and the global financial crisis has resulted in a halving of the landed value of the fishery over the last 10 years. This economic performance has been exacerbated by a limited entry management system that creates perverse incentives that lead to overcapitalisation in catching technology and dissipation of economic rents through competition for catch. In summary maintaining the current management regime for this fishery will inevitably cause continued poor economic performance.

The uncertainty over recruitment into the fishery due to poor puerulus settlement has resulted in management intervention to cut catches to build up breeding stocks has resulted in further declines in the value of the fishery and a rationalisation of boat numbers.

As a result of these pressures in early 2010 both WAFIC and WRLC approached the Western Australian Government requesting that the fishery management arrangements for the fishery be fast tracked to an output control system for the 2010/11 season.

The truncated period for introduction gives the regulatory agency and the industry only 4 months to make the necessary legal and operational changes to ensure its introduction by 15 November 2010.

In order to tap into the benefits that this shift to ITQ can provide there is a need to provide targeted extension on aspects of this management system to a large group of fishermen over a short period of time so as to facilitate a smooth transistion.

The benefits of this reform to the industry and WA community from published reports include:

- Estimates of up to $80 million in additional revenue per annum; and

- Safer workplace and greater crew retention.

Objectives

1. To inform the Western Rock Lobster industry members of the opportunities that moving to ITQ provide

Final report

ISBN: 978-0-646-56576-7
Author: Guy Leyland

Extension of MSC Certification for Western Australian Fisheries

Project number: 2013-030
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $686,000.00
Principal Investigator: Carli Telfer
Organisation: Western Australian Fishing Industry Council Inc (WAFIC)
Project start/end date: 31 Aug 2013 - 30 Aug 2017
Contact:
FRDC

Need

The FRDC, WAFIC and MSC have undertaken public perception studies on the support of fishing activities that have shown that the industry has a very low level of support. The Australian public simply does not believe the message given to it by industry and Government. Western Australia has recognised that the very survival of wild-harvest fisheries depends on a paradigm shift in this negative perception and only a credible, internationally recognised, third-party certification of the State's fisheries will alter the perception and provide industry with the level of security to invest in its future.
The $14.56 million earmarked for third party certification will be split as following: $6.56 million for MSC pre-assessment, full assessment and initial audit and; $2 million per year over 4 years ($8 million) to support Department of Fisheries research and management inputs to the certification process. If the benefits of this investment are to be fully realised for the State and the industry there must be investment in community and industry engagement, and engagement with the post-harvest sector through to the retail and food service. Without such engagement the benefits of certification will not be fully captured. This will require research and testing of cost effective mechanisms to effectively engage. The project builds on the substantial investment by the FRDC in research for Ecosystem Based Fisheries Management. The project will also link with other FRDC activities nationally like the Key Stock Status Report and the trial of the NSW Responsible Fisheries Management Certification project. The whole program of activities in WA that include: A new fisheries Act; MSC certification; and support for FRDC’s marketing function are singularly the largest changes being implemented by a fisheries jurisdiction to improve the future outlook for both capture fisheries and aquaculture.

Objectives

1. To develop and assess communication strategies on how best to obtain commercial fishers support for implementation of third party certification in their fisheries, with the focus being on Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification
2. To assess options for promoting MSC to obtain public confidence in the management of WA fisheries
3. To assess different evaluation methodologies for third party certification that are cost effective and improve the delivery of the program for both fishers and the community
4. Develop and trial a practical framework that would deliver a more cost efficient way for a range of smaller, independent, companies in the supply chain to gain MSC Chain of Custody to optimize community recognition and appreciation of Australian MSC certified seafood
5. To work with stakeholders (retail, fisheries management and environmental agencies) to establish where possible equivalence for the third party certification framework that is being developed for WA fisheries

Final report

ISBN: 978-0-9806948-9-5
Author: WAFIC
Final Report • 2023-06-01 • 51.43 MB
2013-030-DLD.pdf

Summary

This project provides learnings of successes and failures/challenges of MSC certification in WA. At the time
of this report’s publication, 12 WA fisheries representing 90 percent value and approximately 60 percent
of the total commercial catch in the state have been awarded MSC certification. The overall aim of this
project was to ensure the long-term extension of WA’s MSC program, which would be judged on the value
and growth of certified fisheries over time, and how well the MSC model is embraced through the supply
chain.

Seafood Directions 2015 - Selling our Story

Project number: 2014-502
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $74,163.00
Principal Investigator: James Fogarty
Organisation: Western Australian Fishing Industry Council Inc (WAFIC)
Project start/end date: 8 Apr 2014 - 29 Nov 2015
Contact:
FRDC

Need

The Australian Seafood Industry operates in a diverse and dynamic environment and although the volume produced in Australia is small by world standards, the value and quality of our product and sustainability of our practices are globally recognized. For the Seafood Industry to continue to be a world leader in seafood production and quality there must be an opportunity to learn from each other and plan for the future.
The role of Seafood Directions is to provide a significant opportunity for fisheries researchers, fisheries managers and others who work in support of the industry, to examine key contemporary and strategic issues and develop blueprints that will ensure a sustainable, profitable and socially resilient seafood industry in Australia. As stated previously, this function of Seafood Directions is particularly valuable in the absence of a National Peak Industry body representing the Australian Seafood Industry as a whole.

The need for Seafood Directions is indicated by the ongoing supportof key stakeholders of the seafood industry, as is evident by the level of industry sponsorship and attendance at the conference.

Objectives

1. Plan and deliver the 9th Seafood Directions Conference in Perth Western Australia
2. Maintain a minimum of 200 registrations of which a minimum of 25% should be Harvesters
3. Further securing access rights through promoting the sustainability of fisheries as a result of certification processes and other initiatives
4. Setting the direction for marketing and promotion activities for the fishing industry for the next decade and beyond

Effective sanitation for the fishing industry: using bacteriological assessment to optimise sanitiser type for processing equipment and finfish product

Project number: 2005-402
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $35,040.00
Principal Investigator: Thomas Riley
Organisation: Western Australian Fishing Industry Council Inc (WAFIC)
Project start/end date: 8 Oct 2005 - 30 Aug 2006
Contact:
FRDC

Need

An increase in the shelf life of low value fish, and therefore the consumers associated perceptions of freshness and quality, could result in increased consumption of these under utilised species, resulting in higher demand for the species and a higher return to the producer. This project would address aspects of the strategic challenges identified in the FRDC industry development plan. Specifically, making better use of under-utilised fish, and producing safe, high quality seafood.

As various producers in WA are exploring the use of MAP the knowledge of whether these organisms are present and the geographical spread of them is critical. Without this knowledge it is not possible to design an appropriate preservation, storage and packaging strategy that is specifically active against these spoilers.

Objectives

1. To assess the effectiveness of sanitising agents on fishing industry equipment and product.
2. To determine if shelf-life (as measured by the quality index) of selected finfish species can be extended with the use of sanitisers

Final report

ISBN: 978-0-646-49544-6
Author: Thomas Riley
Blank
PROJECT NUMBER • 2010-748
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

SCRC: Investigating markets for Seafood in East Asia

With the Australian dollar at historic highs, the need to help industry to determine which markets can give the best return on members' investment in time to investigate them and create some demand for products from Western Australia is critical. Asia is still by far the largest market for Western...
ORGANISATION:
Western Australian Fishing Industry Council Inc (WAFIC)

A code of practice for the on-board handling of shark from Western Australian demersal gillnet and demersal longline fishery

Project number: 2000-401
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $73,042.00
Principal Investigator: Richard N. Stevens
Organisation: Western Australian Fishing Industry Council Inc (WAFIC)
Project start/end date: 12 Aug 2000 - 30 Nov 2004
Contact:
FRDC

Need

The shark fishing industry needs a framework of Good Manufacturing practices to make sure it complies with existing and future health, and food safety regulations.

Shark fishing involves a level of processing that is no longer common practice in the fishing industry, it needs a framework of good manufacturing practices so that it is able to demonstrate due diligence in the case of a food related health incident.

The fishery wants to know where quality needs to be improved how this may be achieved in practice to improve the landed value of its product, reduce waste and extend the shelf life of fresh shark meat.

Objectives

1. In consultation with industry, formulate a code of parctice that sets out best practice in the fishery and satisfies current and projected food safety standards.
2. Print and distribute the code of practice, encourage adherence to code.
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