Communication and extension has been identified by the board as an activity on which more work should be undertaken.
In particular the last three AOP's for FRDC identified under Challenge 5: Community and consumer support two key priorities:
• Educate the community about fisheries and aquaculture management and its contribution to Australia.
• Communicate the benefits of government and industry investment in R&D.
To deliver key messages to the broader community, television is widely recogised as a powerful, albeit costly, tool. Escape with ET provides a cost effective vehicle to reach not only recreational fishers but those in the community that are interested in a wider range of activities and pursuits.
Over the course of Series 9 and 10, FRDC has helped produce over 35 individual stories on R&D ranging from release fish survival through to Australian Salmon and Southern Rocklobster which has been seen by a cumalitive audience of over 18,000,000.