The Australian Government has announced it's intention to legislate to impose a cost on greenhouse emissions from 1 July 2012, and has also legislated the Carbon Farming Initiative, which provides opportunities for enterprises that are able to implement projects that reduce atmospheric greenhouse gases (either through sequestration or mitigation) to generate revenue. Imposing a cost on greenhouse emissions will increase the cost of energy in the economy, and have an impact on the profitability of primary industry enterprises (such as fishing and aquaculture) that face international competition and are therefore unable to increase prices to offset additional costs. The proposed project involves financial modelling to better understand the impact of climate change policy on fishing and aquaculture businesses and related supply chain participants, and also an exploration of options that might be available to reduce the negative impact, or to generate revenue from projects that reduce greenhouse emissions.

Australian abalone fisheries face similar threats to the sustainability, marketability of stocks and products. Australia is in an enviable position with a pristine marine environment, and provides the lion's share of the world supply of greenlip and blacklip abalone (H. laevegata & H. rubra). It is evident that abalone producing States do not communicate often or closely enough to maximise the benefits of the extra efforts each State is doing in terms of R&D, stock enhancement, marketing and product labelling. Also, it is evident that there are very few industry driven conventions or conferences around Australia and the world. This idea or concept for a National Forum within which to share ideas and results from various endeavours became a high priority for the Australian abalone industry which is very much supported by other abalone producing States. The convention will address the following needs:
• The need for abalone fisheries to address key issues such as marketing, industry development, product development and labelling.
• The need for closer and more extensive communication and networking with other abalone fishery participants.
• The need for participants to share information, data and methodologies adopted in R&D programs and compliance strategies.
• The need to identify areas of R&D that have proved successful and to imitate that success.
• To update the national strategic plan addressing common issues.