A study of seafood consumption in Perth and the development of a guide to targeted promotion
Given the many changes to the business environment and eating habits in Perth since the National Fish Consumption Study, particularly over the past year, there is a great need for up to date reliable information on the consumption of seafood in Perth to comprehend and overcome this reported downturn in seafood retail sales and for long term planning for the producers and marketers of seafood.
This information would also allow industry to make better use of the States underutilised finfish particularly the species coming to Perth from remote areas such as the North West Shelf which are currently not fetching high prices. With the growing number of Asian fish shops in Perth and the growing interest in ethnic foods, import replacement with local underutilised species is of great importance.
Australia as a whole can benefit from the results of this research because this study can be directly compared with a similar study being conducted in Sydney by Ruello & associates (FRDC 98/345). The results of the two studies in the west and east can then be used by other states in between the two seaboards.
This Western Australian project is best regarded as an extension to the Sydney FRDC 98/345 project. It is intended that the Perth study can start in January 1999 so that interviews are conducted at the same time in Perth and Sydney so that we have uniform seasonal data on both sides of the continent.
The development of a simple guide on where and how to target advertising will be a first for the Australian seafood industry. It will prove to be a valuable tool for industry sectors all around Australia and will encourage and assist the retail sector to advertise their business and their products
Final report
This study was initiated in response to industry requests for information on the consumption of fish and seafood in Perth, because of widespread concerns about static or declining sales levels, to provide recommendations on how to increase retail sales profitably. It was designed to repeat much of the 1991 National Seafood Consumption Study (NSCS) so as to examine changes in fish/seafood consumption and retailers and consumers attitudes to fish and seafood since then.
The study was undertaken in parallel with a research project on retail sales, seafood consumption and consumer attitudes in Sydney which started several months earlier. This report details the findings from three focus group discussions with Perth consumers in February 1999, a total of 430 interviews on out of home consumption and 461 interviews on in home consumption and consumers attitudes. It also records the results of a study of consumers’ awareness of seafood advertising and the reaction to selected promotional posters and statements and has a guide designed to assist retailers to plan and execute targeted advertising and other promotional exercises.
Keywords: seafood consumption, Perth, promotion guide.
International environmental instruments: their effect on the fishing industry (part 2)
Risk from Diarrhetic Shellfish Toxins and Dinophysis to the Australian Shellfish Industry
Human Dimensions Research Subprogram management
A Human Dimensions Research Subprogram presents the FRDC and stakeholders with the opportunity to maximise investment in and effectiveness of human dimensions RD&E for Australian fisheries and aquaculture. This is achieved by: - Providing the Subprogram with capacity to lever greater overall investment in human dimensions RD&E through co-investment arrangements: Capacity to co-invest or directly commission will enable the Subprogram to ensure that a higher number of human dimensions RD&E needs, as identified by RACs, IPAs and other Subprograms, are addressed through successful applications. This capacity to collaborate and co-invest with RACs, IPAs and/or other Subprograms not only acts as an incentive for further investment in human dimensions RD&E, it increases the likelihood that high quality and effective research is undertaken which will meet stakeholders' needs. It will achieve this through a number of mechanisms including: providing funding for appropriate expertise to be included in teams of research applicants; and, creating incentives for more integrated RD&E in which human dimensions research can be embedded in more traditional fisheries and aquaculture research projects. - Providing leadership and coordination where required to draw on a range of expertise to tackle complex problems: Capacity to directly commission or call for RD&E will enable the Subprogram to meet needs for targeted, strategic RD&E to address some of the issues which are preventing improved outcomes for fisheries and aquaculture stakeholders. These include issues such as the previously uncoordinated investment in measurement of the economic and social contributions made by different sectors, in response to which the Subprogram will draw on recognised expertise to develop a common position on metrics, methods of measurement and interpretation. This will in turn increase credibility of contribution studies and the return on investment in such studies.
Workshop
A National RD&E Workshop was held on 21 September 2018 in Adelaide, South Australia, in which representatives of industry, research, management, and service providers addressed how to make a positive difference to the mental health of people in fisheries and aquaculture.
The impetus for the workshop came from the FRDC Board and the FRDC’s Seafood Safety and Welfare Initiative. Both the Board and the Initiative are responding to the range of tactical industry-led activities commencing or proposed to address falling levels of mental health among members; the need for a gap analysis of available RD&E; and, to better acknowledge the link between mental health and workplace health and safety.
Participants established the level of leadership and commitment, reviewed the current state of knowledge of mental health levels and contributing factors, and compared what strategies supporting mental health are currently available within fisheries and aquaculture with evidence-based strategies from the mental health support sector.