The rocklobster industry was the most valuable seafood industry in Australia valued in excess of $550 million per annum in 2001-02. An estimated $200 million per annum has been lost nationally in the last 3 years from the market value of Australian rocklobster due solely to a decline in market price.

The major Australian rocklobster industries face a number of common national and international marketing issues. Specifically if informed market development investments are to be made at the sector level, the following need to be canvassed, understood and addressed:

1. the benefits and costs of market development based on regional, State, species, and national approaches
2. the value of accreditation and options for establishing traceability
3. cultured lobster – opportunity or threat
4. the benefits and costs of syndicating market development activities with other seafood sectors
5. the benefits and costs of linking with other food and beverage sectors
6. linkages with SEA, NAC and NFIS in relation to market development and
7. industry market development structures, funding and management.

In summary there is an immediate need for funding support to the national rocklobster industry to deal with a series of important market related issues if it is to effectively engage in a range of local and national initiates which will be finalised in 2005.

A restructured Congress presents as the ideal vehicle to deal with these strategic challenges. The opportunity exists in 2005 if cost effective and operationally feasible, to link with Seafood Directions.

In 1999/2000 the estimated value of Australia’s rock lobster industry was $544 million and this represented 23% of the landed value of all Australian fisheries.

As Australia’s premier fisheries export there is a need to ensure that our lobster fisheries are managed sustainably and that they clearly demonstrate to the world that our research and management is ‘state-of-the-art’ and ‘worlds best practice’. By hosting this conference in Australia, it will enable the maximum number of fishery scientists, managers and industry representatives to attend and meet with scientists, managers and fishers associated with lobster fisheries around the world.

An area of particular interest to Australia includes lobster ecosystem models and assessment. There is a need in all of Australia’s lobster fisheries to address ecosystem issues for both Environment Australia and forthcoming ecological sustainable development requirements. In association with these requirements there is a need for Australia’s premier fisheries export industry to obtain and maintain industry accreditation for current and developing markets. Several Australian States, with the support of the FRDC Rock Lobster and Aquaculture Subprogram are investigating the potential for a rock lobster aquaculture industry. To aid this development there is a need to be abreast of the latest developments around the world.

The conference will also provide an opportunity to hear of the application of new technology and to form partnerships with experts pioneering new developments.

RESEARCH RELEVANCE AND ACCEPTANCE

FRDC is continually asked to fund a wide range of projects in the rock lobster post harvest area. These include studies of post-capture handling, transport, live holding cooking, packing, storing, freezing, Australian and international shipping, etc. To ensure that the investment in R&D results in significant profits for the industry it uses the Subprogram to assist it to measure the quality of science of the application, plan the research with industry partners to ensure improved outcomes, develop a comprehensive extension program, and ensure a high level of adoption of the results.

The Subprogram has achieved a high degree of research coordination between the States and an effective communication strategy to ensure service delivery to the industry. The Subprogram has added value to the FRDC's research investment by managing its project portfolio in this manner. This could not have been achieved without an independent Subprogram Leader and a highl responsive Steering Committee that is represented by industry members across Australia.

RESEARCH EFFICIENCY

Because of the Subprogram there have been substantive savings in the operation of projects and in the funding approved for new projects. The Subprogram ensures that the projects are appropriately costed, involves the industry in the projects where ever possible, and coordinates travel and workshop budjets to ensure a more efficient use of limited research funds.

NEW PROJECT DEVELOPMENT

As an indication of needs. The Subprogram is currently examining projects looking at:

1. Designing improved baskets for transporting both western and southern rock lobster lobsters. This project will be developed mainly with non FRDC funding.

Basket designs vary widely in the industry. The were developed add-hock all over different parts of the fisheries and all over Australia. In recent years there have been many modifictions to original designs as fishers attempted to transport ever increasing numbers of lobsters in a condition 'suitable for live export'. A better designed basket could provide financial savings to fishers and processors, and perhaps make them an interchangable item, similar to the use of wooden pallets in other industries. In addition, a better basket could assist with health and saftey issues, becuse many of the present baskets in use result in excessively heavy loads being carried, which may cause back damage.

2. Solving the “pink lobster” problem (2003/243)in western rock lobsters which is causing problems for both the wild fishery and processors.

Lobsters with pink flesh are difficult for processors to sell and the definiely get a reduced price. This is also a problem for fishers who, knowing of the processors problems, often tend to discsrd these lobsters at sea. It is mainly a western rock lobster problem but it does occur on a small scale in southern rock lobsters in SA.

3. Value adding the southern rock lobster catch by optimising flesh quality of uder valued large lobsters for the sashimi market (2003/242).

Large southern lobsters are difficult if not impossible to sell and if the are sold it is a very low prices. The possibility of value adding to these lobsters by 'preparing them' for the sashimi market is to be examined.

4. Production a booklet assisting sales of rock lobsters by advising overseas buyers how best to hold live rock lobsters; and documenting the operations of the market in Hong Kong for southern rock lobsters to assist Australian marketers from South Australia, Victoria and Tasmania.

5. The cooking project 2001/235 will lead to dramatic new projects after completing of this study. Progress in this project has impressed the industry and clearly indicated that significant improvements improvements can be made in this area. The cooking techniques in practice can greatly improved. Innovate methods such an microwave cooking will be investigated.

Other projects will be developed after identification and consultation with industry. In all cases the Subprogram seeks quality scientific studies using innovative approaches, with maximum cost effectiveness.

The Australian Seafood Industry Council has identified a need to hold a biennial national seafood industry conference where the industry can gather in an appropriate form to discuss and learn about issues of critical nature affecting the industry and to use this form as a means of providing the basis for future planning and direction.

1.There is critical need for the seafood industry of Australia to promote itself and its image.
2.There is a critical need for the industry at national level to adequately address issues of Access Security.
3.There is a critical need for the industry at national level to adequately address issues of Quality.
4.There is a critical need for the industry at national level to adequately address issues relating to the Environment.
5.There is also a critical need for industry to address the public’s perception of seafood and associated issues such as quality, health benefits and product transfer.
6.There is a clear need for the Australian seafood industry to develop a ‘conference culture’ at a national level, which is critical to ensuring effective information transfer.
7.Other issues such as training and education, marketing and industry development also have international aspects, which could be addressed through attracting international industry delegates to Australia through a conference.

The need for targeted research to support management of the NE QLD lobster fishery has arisen as a result of the recent and dramatic increase in catch and concern that the increase is unsustainable. In response to this concern the Queensland Fisheries Service (QFS) issued an investment warning for the fishery on 31 May 2001. Also, the NE QLD lobster population is likely part of a wider distributed stock, shared by Australian and PNG fishers in Torres Strait and now these fisheries are over-exploited and managers are taking measures to ensure sustainability. In NE QLD, there is an urgent need to gain biological and fishery information to allow implementation of management measures that will ensure catches are sustainable. The commercial catch is monitored by the QFS with a logbook program but no formal stock assessment has been undertaken using this data. However, effort and catch has doubled over the past three years, whilst CPUE has tended to decline. There is also a need to collate existing and new information on the biology of the NE QLD lobster population to assess current impacts of fishing on the stock and so that future research can be prioritised and properly designed to ensure its cost-effectiveness. Future research would likely include field studies to assist stock assessment, breeding population studies, targeted oceanographic studies and efficient observer programs. A critical need is knowledge of the extent of the breeding population and the fate of larval recruits on the NE QLD coast. There is currently pressure from the industry to open areas south of 14°S. However, for informed management decisions it is important to establish how well stocks are connected. Existing allozyme genetic data could not detect stock structure in this species. However, due to the slow mutation rates of allozymes and low variability especially in lobsters, this is not sufficient to conclude that the NE QLD fishery operates on the same genetic stock as the Torres Strait population. It is likely, given the long larval life of lobsters (6 months) that the NE QLD coast, Torres Strait and the eastern Gulf of Papua are source areas and larvae spawned there mix in the NW Coral Sea gyre and provide recruitment to these regions as well as to sink areas south of 14°S. If this is true, fishing occurs in the source area but not on the sink population; biological and genetic information is required to resolve this contrary situation.