At a time when increasing pressure is being brought to bear on the State's fisheries resources there is an urgent requirement for a coordinated, long term Strategy, to enable more efficient planning and conduct of practical fisheries research which will underpin further sustainable development of the fisheries Industry.

Maximum benefit must be extracted both from the finite amount of funding available for fisheries research and, from the considerable effort which is applied by research providers. To achieve this it is essential that appropriate research priorities are targetted transparently, and research programs are continuous and consistent in addressing those priorities.

A clearly stated and widely disseminated long term plan compiled with input from all stakeholders in the fisheries resource is an overdue requirement to effectively focus funds and effort on the common goal.