The 1993 Fishing Industry National Study (FINS) clearly identified that more cohesive and efficient delivery of the types services now provided under SSA’s umbrella was required to address important areas of market failure in the seafood industry and to help the industry identify and captilise on significant opportunities for industry development through post harvest value adding.

SSA’s products, services, and its comprehensive standards development process, are recognised nationally, by industry and governments, as having contributed significantly to the development of the Australian seafood industry, especially through keeping the industry abreast of legislative and technological change. SSA’s work is also being recognised internationally and used as a model for other primary industry sectors. See Appendix C – SSA Annual Operating Plan, December 2001 to June 2002. Recent evaluations have identified opportunities to further improve SSA’s delivery of products and services to all sectors of the industry.

Incorporation of SSA Ltd establishes a rigorous, transparent and accountable management regime with significant industry ownership that will further focus the SSA’s activities through corporate leadership, strategic vision and closer links with the industry on a national basis. Formal corporate directorship processes will also ensure SSA’s operates strategically within the broad industry development program outlined in the Investing for tomorrow’s fish: the FRDC’s research and development plan, 2000 to 2005.

The SSA Network brings together industry and government members from each State and Territory, and the Commonwealth to seek solutions to a wide range of seafood supply chain issues, including issues of market failure, from seafood safety through to environmental management systems. Experience over the past three years has demonstrated the pivotal role the Network plays in achieving SSA's outcomes so successfully. This project will strengthen the Network so that it can continue to have input into priorities and work programs, thereby ensuring SSA Ltd activities are responsive, cohesive, and appropriately targeted.

SSA Ltd provides a flexible and responsive mechanism that will for the first time, enable the seafood industry to attract private and public funding for seafood industry development from non-traditional funding sources. It will do this by encouraging and supporting people, businesses and organisations in the seafood industry who want to:
1. continually improve and add value to their businesses,
2. continually improve their environmental performance,
3. meet consumer expectations (especially in having high levels of confidence in Australian seafood products), and
4. receive broad community support for their activities.

SSA Ltd will is uniquely poised to foster unprecedented and sustainable seafood industry development, generating significant social and economic benefits to Australia.