The perception of the seafood Industry is that, while many individual enterprises are successful and forward moving, on an Industry wide level there is a lack of creative thinking and platforms to express Ideas.
The thought processes within the seafood industry need to be fluid enough to evolve, adapt and deal with current and future issues.
By promoting discussion and enabling people to explore ideas and issues in a different context, not bound by existing thoughts and limitations, we can come up with new ideas, distinct solutions and fresh policy options for our industry.

Why is this needed:
• The seafood industry has a perception as being an ageing industry with a lack of fresh thinking.
• The industry faces complex challenges operating in a changing world that is mobile, connected and savvy. There is a need, not just to react to these changes, but rather lead and act in a proactive manner.
• Through the participation of attendees who are not currently part of the decision making processes within the industry, yet intrinsically linked to its evolution, as well as other leaders and influential people from different industries, new idea’s and innovative thought paths can be formed.

The shortfin mako, longfin mako and porbeagle sharks have widespread distributions in temperate and tropical waters of all the world’s oceans. Makos are bycatch and by-product species of pelagic longline and gillnet fisheries where they are taken for their meat and high-value fins. They are also highly-prized recreational species in many regions. Makos have low productivity, typical of sharks that do not mature until reaching a large size, producing few young and where individuals are unlikely to reproduce annually. Risk assessments both nationally and in the Atlantic concluded that mako sharks are at the highest risk of all pelagic sharks. These species are listed by the IUCN as Vulnerable globally and Critically Endangered in the Mediterranean. Significant population declines in the Mediterranean Sea and the North Atlantic resulted in these species being listed under Appendix II of the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) in 2008 and concomitant listing under Australia’s EPBC Act in January 2010. This effectively meant that the target commercial or recreational fishing for these species was prohibited in Australian waters. In May 2010 the National Recreational Mako Shark Fishery - Management Forum identified the need for a study to identify and propose cost effective ways to fill key gaps in the collective knowledge of these species. In July 2010, after considerable debate, a legislative amendment was made to allow for the recreational fishing of mako and porbeagle sharks in Commonwealth areas despite the offence provisions under the EPBC Act. Commercial targeting of these species remains an offence, however, there are exemptions where they are taken as bycatch under accredited management plans. The Federal Environment Minister also directed DEWHA/SEWPaC to work with Fisheries Managers to provide a “more comprehensive information base on mako and porbeagle sharks for the future”. This project is a direct result of these needs.