Innovative solutions for aquaculture planning and management – Project 5, Environmental audit of marine aquaculture developments in South Australia
Aquaculture is a rapidly growing industry in Australia, and as such there are substantial issues related to resource allocation and ESD. South Australia is at the forefront of this development with a range of innovative aquaculture industries, an active group in PIRSA Aquaculture addressing policy and management issues, and another in SARDI Aquatic Sciences providing the scientific and technical background information for such matters through targeted research and development (R&D). As such, South Australia provides an ideal model for other States.
While a reasonable level of environmental information exists and, through the Aquafin CRC, continues to grow for tuna farming, this is not the case for most of the other marine aquaculture industry sectors. The purpose of this application is therefore to gather and review existing environmental information, undertake an environmental risk assessment, investigate through targeted R&D the priority environmental impact issues, establish a framework of key indicators on which to base impact assessments, and develop industry sector-based environmental monitoring programs that enable impacts to be detected. Apart from tuna, we currently have very little information on the environmental impacts of finfish farming in South Australian waters, especially for the rapidly growing Yellowtail Kingfish sector. In order to obtain public support for further development of this industry, it is essential that its environmental impacts are assessed, and strategies implemented for reducing any impacts that occur. Similarly, for shellfish farming, there is still a great deal of contention about impacts on the ecosystem, particularly seagrasses, which co-occur with the largest shellfish aquaculture industry in the state – Pacific Oysters.
This project will therefore provide background information for improving and further developing the project “Innovative solutions for aquaculture planning and management – Project 2, Spatial impacts and carrying capacity: Further developing, refining and validating existing models of shellfish and finfish carrying capacity”. Both projects will provide much of the scientific and technical data for input into the project “Innovative solutions for aquaculture planning and management – Project 1, Decision support system for aquaculture development”, where “Decision support system” is defined as a computer based, integrated method for supporting management decisions. Decision support systems must incorporate rigorous and scientifically sound decision criteria and, as such they require a good understanding of the potential environmental impacts that may result from aquaculture, as well as the characteristics of existing or future farm sites and the ecosystem in which they exist.
In response to rapid growth, PIRSA Aquaculture are also developing an environmental management policy in parallel with the AFMF ESD framework (visit www.pir.sa.gov.au/sector118.shtml). Thus, information from the present project will be important for this policy.
Final report
Non-market values to inform decision-making and reporting in fisheries and aquaculture – an audit and gap analysis
A pilot project conducted in the western rock lobster industry, to create a software audit tool for assessing occupational health and safety compliance with industry best practice on board a commercial fishing vessel
This project relates to the R&D program : Industry Development under Challenge 4 – Improve the operating efficiency of businesses which includes occupational health and safety.
This project in combination with the two existing FRDC projects seeks to increase the knowledge of occupational health and safety through the assessment process. The assessment with this tool will allow industry to identify areas where the level of compliance is below expectations set by industry and therefore address these deficiencies. It also allows for the recognition of the area that OH&S is being done well.
In order to demonstrate to the Regulatory bodies and the Industry body – WAFIC that the industry itself is utilizing the Code there needs to be some form of assessment on each individual fisherman to ascertain the level of compliance with the Code. There also needs to be some form of assessment of what are the main OS&H issues that still remain a high risk in order for the industry to address those problem areas.
It has been determined that this project needs to be focused on one industry sector as it is a pilot for the future development of OS&H. Therefore to ensure the variables are minimise the Western Rock Lobster Industry will be the focus for the initial pilot project. HOWEVER IT IS FULLY INTENDED TO APPLY THE ASSESSMENT TOOL AS THE FOLLOW UP MECHANISM FOR THE NATIONAL OSH CODES PROJECT.THERE ARE KEY COMPONENTS TO ALL OSH PROGRAMS ACROSS AUSTRALIA. THESE ARE TO HAVE A PRACTICAL SET OF GUDILINES THAT INCORPORATE THE LEGAL REQUIRMENTS IN EACH STATE AND PUT THEN IN SEAFOOD TERMS. THESE ARE TO BE DEVELOPED THROUGH INDUSTRY ( THIS IS THE NATIONAL CODE).TO MAKE INDUSTRY AWARE AND ACHIEVE A CULTURAL CHANGE FROM WITHIN THE INDUSTRY AND TO PROMOTE TO GOVERNMENT THE REASONS WHY THE NATIONAL CODES PROJECT EXISTS . TO INSTALL A SYSTEM OF EVALUATION TO BE ABLE TO DEMONSTRATE THAT THE SELF REGUALTION APPROACH WORKS.
The software tool developed for this pilot will also be added on the existing national Extension Occupational Health and Safety project as method of assessing those states performance after the introduction of their respective OS&H Codes.
SEE ATTACHMENT 1 FOR INFORMATION ON BENEFITS OF USING THE TECHNOLOGY
Final report
The Western Australian Fishing Industry Council has had a comprehensive health and safety code for use in the wild catch fishing industry in place since 1992. The OSH Code (hereafter referred to as the Code) was developed as a result of an increasing fatality and serious incident rate within the industry and pressure from both government agencies with jurisdiction over the fishing industry (Worksafe WA and Marine Safety WA) for WAFIC to act over the r incident rate.
The Code was issued as a formal printed document in 1997 and while the education and awareness process continues to this day, questions have been raised by WAFIC, Industry and Government agencies as to the Code’s effectiveness and uptake by industry.
This project involved the Principal Investigator (hereafter referred to as the PI) developing the audit tool (question set) and conducting the trial audits and the Co-Investigator (AXON IT) accessing the software, developing the web based system and uploading all necessary documentation.
The question set reflected the content and structure of the Code: Part 1 Responsibilities; Part 2 – General guidelines; and Part 3 – Pot and Trap.
The question set was refined over eight versions based upon feedback from trial audits.
SafetyNet is the name assigned to the web site where all the data is collated and reports produced.
Twenty two sample audits were conducted randomly within the Western Rock Lobster sector and the data entered into the software. The audits and subsequent data collected was not analyzed other than collection of answers for each question. A statistical analysis was not within the scope of the pilot project.
The reports that can be generated by the data base are simple pie charts or bar graphs. They are easy to access and interpret from SafetyNet. Sample reports on the data from the twenty two audits were used to design and test the report generator.
While the audit tool has been piloted within the Western Rock Lobster industry, the audit tool can be adapted to any sector across Australia by designing the question set and uploading to the web. It has been designed so that it can be adapted to enable each state to audit their industry where and when required to assess the uptake of each state’s OSH Code.
The use of Microsoft word for the audit tool also provides flexibility to adapt the question set and reports for other types of audits e.g. environmental and quality audits.
Keywords: Rock lobster, Worksafe, Marine Safety, audit, Microsoft word, software, SafetyNet.
Greening Australia's Fisheries - a national strategy for application of environmental management systems in the Australian fishing industry
Worldwide, consumers in developed countries enjoy and demand wild fish products but at the same time view commercial fishers as “rapers and pillagers” of the aquatic environment. “Green tick” acceptability as embodied by the ISO 14000 and 9000 family of standards for individual businesses, will increasingly become an entry requirement to markets - and to enhanced consumer value and respect. Efforts to develop formal Environmental Management Systems (EMS) in fisheries have initially focused on very large corporate players (eg, Unilever via the Marine Stewardship Council), but ignored small fishing businesses for whom such processes were individually impractical. Leaders in Australian fishing industries need advice as to the “best” and most practical accreditation systems to implement; the concrete benefits to different types of fisheries which can be readily achieved; real examples of fisheries EMS successes, and an initial education strategy for delivering these components to industry leading fishing businesses. At the same time, FRDC seriously needs to publicly demonstrate its commitment to environmental planning and improvement through underpinning practical, industry driven environmental strategies – preferably in conjunction with key environmental players.
Final report
Manage FRDC accreditation as a Standards Development Organisation 2022-2025
Bio-Security Awareness Workshop
Aquatic animal health and biosecurity are fundamental to a viable aquaculture industry. Although there are many possible providers of information and support regarding biosecurity on farms, and many implications for disease outbreaks for farmers, farmers are generally poorly informed about these matters.
In addition, in the absence of detailed feedback, regulators are unaware of practical issues that may arise in the application of policies and procedures regarding aquatic animal health.
This workshop will provide an opportunity for exchange of information and views regarding aquatic animal biosecurity between farmers and regulators in Qld.
In so doing, it will improve the understanding of aquatic animal biosecurity and lead to improved biosecurity in the Qld aquaculture industry.
Final report
Queensland Aquaculture Industries Federation (Inc) (QAIF) represents the major land based aquaculture sectors in Australia. Members believe that as the industry grows in scale, geographical spread and develops breeding stock re distant from the original wild sector genetics, it is becoming more exposed to risks of biosecurity breakdown.
An industry workshop was held in Cairns on 5 September 2012.
It was attended by farmers, hatchery managers, university researchers, vets and senior staff from agencies responsible for managing biosecurity at a State and Federal level. Issues explored included the risks to be managed, response arrangements and on-farm biosecurity protection.
Fisheries R & D Corporation to be accredited by the Australian Board of Standards Development Organisations as a Standards Development Organisation (SDO) to develop Australian standards in the seafood industry
The seafood industry needs to have a Standards setting body that can develop Australian Standards specifically for the seafood industry.
SSA has successfully fulfilled this role since 2005 when it was one of the first organisations to be successfully accredited by Standards Australia as a Standards Development Organisation.
The first Australian Standard to be developed by SSA was the Australian Fish Names Standard (AS SSA 5300) which was accredited as an Australian Standard in 2007.
SSA is ceasing to operate as at the end of July or soon after.
The end result of this is that either:
a. Administration of the AFNS and all IP can be handed back to Standards Australia as per the terms of accreditation; or
b. Standards Australia can assign administration of the AFNS and all associated IP to another SDO with a similar scope.
As there are no other like organisations with a similar scope, it is important that a seafood industry organisation be accredited as soon as possible to assume control of the standard.
While the AFNS is a current and will stay in place for 5 years, it is not the type of standard that can be left static. Its strength is that it is continually being amended as species names are added and amended.
In addition to the Australian Fish Names Standard, there are some additional standards that are being proposed
• 2015 Australian Standard for Responsible Fishing on Vessels
• 2015 Australian Standard for Responsible Fisheries Management
• 2015 Australian Standard for Chain of Custody in Seafood
• 2015 Australian Standard for Common Language in Seafood
FRDC is a moist appropriate organisation to be accredited as an SDO. Initial discussions with ABSDO are very positive and the fact that FRDC is ISO accredited is a huge bonus.
Indigenous Fishing Subprogram: Improving access for Indigenous Australians to and involvement in the use and management of Australia's fisheries resource
The need for this project comes from the continuing assertion by ICF that their ongoing relationship (use, management and spiritual associations) with fisheries resources is yet to be sufficiently addressed by various Australian fisheries jurisdictions. While this relationship is recognised in various international instruments and agreements including the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries Section 7.6.6, the United Nations Declaration on rights of Indigenous Peoples and the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, this recognition hasn't converted to an 'on ground' full realisation in any fisheries jurisdiction. Indigenous participants at the Cairns workshops in 2012 identified a need for further work to be done to address these deficiencies, see FRDC Project 2010/401. Similarly, project 2009/038 documented the concerns of ICF in NSW with the impacts of commercial and recreational fishing on their cultural fishing practices.
There is a need for consistent approaches to the recognition and protection of ICF in fisheries management and governance at various levels of government. Consequently, there is a need to evaluate the current status of fisheries management approaches taken in each jurisdiction to address Indigenous fisheries interests in order to; (i) identify achievements and gaps, (ii) build on recent achievements made in this area (e.g. existent indigenous fisheries strategies, establishment of the IRG and recent FRDC funded research initiatives), (iii) benchmark management approaches in each jurisdiction with national and international best practice.
There is a need to complete the work on developing an Indigenous GCT described by Fletcher et al (2000) using different approaches to collect the relevant data for the GCT so that a risk assessment methodologies can be applied in assessing risks and impacts of nIF on the ICF as part of achieving ESD in Australia.
Final report
This report provides details of the FRDC Project 2014-233 Improving access for Indigenous Australians to and involvement in the use and management of Australia’s fisheries resources. The project was undertaken because Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people continue to assert that their rightful place in the use and management of fisheries resources is yet to reach a level that would enable them to meet their cultural, social and economic needs.
Some key issues underpinning this perception were identified by Indigenous fishers at a national workshop supported by the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC) held in Cairns 2011. Two specific issues identified in Cairns were the basis for this project, they included the need to identify barriers and opportunities for Indigenous fisheries within legislation and policy and the need to address non-indigenous impacts on Indigenous fisheries. This project comprised two phases addressing two objectives based on these two issues.
Phase 1 of the project centred on the first objective, to audit as many fisheries related documents (legislation, policy, management strategies and plans) so as to develop a picture of how Indigenous fisheries are addressed within these documents. Phase 2 of the project focussed on the second objective which was to trial a methodology for conducting a risk assessment of the potential impacts of non-indigenous fisheries on Indigenous cultural fishing.
It will take time for the outcomes to have an impact on end users such as fisheries managers. However, there has already been some uptake of information from the project into fisheries decision making spaces. This has been achieved through information from the
audit being provided to a number of governmental reviews and inquiries over the past 3 years. For Indigenous end users’ findings from this section of the project will be communicated through a recently commenced FRDC project 2017-069 in the form of educational content and key messages developed through a new project the FRDC Indigenous Reference Group (IRG) is supporting to commence in 2019 (‘Identify and synthesizing key messages from IRG projects’).From Phase 1 of the project the research team recommends the development of a more comprehensive set of national Indigenous fishing principles to further guide the development, implementation and monitoring of Indigenous fisheries policy across all jurisdictions. The team also recommends the inclusion in all fisheries acts, across all jurisdictions, of an objective that specifically addresses Indigenous cultural fishing, provisions for the establishment of Indigenous fisheries advisory committees, the inclusion of provisions to identify, measure and address impacts of non-indigenous fisheries on Indigenous fisheries and provisions to protect and enhance Traditional Fishing Knowledge (TFK). The research team also recommends a review of the Commonwealth’s ESD guidelines to include a requirement for the assessment of the impacts of non-Indigenous fisheries on Indigenous cultural fishing.
The aim of Phase 2 of this project was to run a series of case study workshops for Indigenous fishing communities to test a methodology for making risk assessments of fisheries that was developed by Fletcher et al 2002. This methodology was used to assess
the potential risks posed by non-indigenous fisheries on Indigenous cultural fisheries.