Northern Australia is a geographic concept. While the CRCNA project has successfully engaged a large number of stakeholders, this has been on a business, sector or regional basis. What is needed, and the focus for this application, is a facilitated stakeholder workshop that brings together the key stakeholders and enablers to (a) test, refine and gain buy-in for 'Vision 2028 for aquaculture in northern Australia' and (b) to prioritise recommendations to enable industry expansion. At the same time, there are parallel strategies in development for the FRDC and a number of its industry partners (Barramundi and Prawns, in particular, are developing their 5 years plans, and the NAC is looking to reinvigorate its strategic direction).
The FRDC plays a critical role in funding RD&E that underpins aquaculture industry growth nationally. With a policy and investment focus on the North, it is vital that we align RD&E funding priorities, identify solution providers across multiple stakeholder groups, and ensure synergies in activity among industry, research providers, and funding agencies.
This workshop will support alignment and efficiencies across multiple sectors' and provide valuable input to the FRDC's own strategic plan.
Workshop
This report provides a summary of the ‘Aquaculture opportunities in northern Australia: Solutions and Strategies Workshop’ held in Rockhampton, 5-6 February 2020. This FRDC project supported James Cook University, the Australian Barramundi Farmers Association, Australian Prawn Farmers Association and Rockhampton Regional Council to organise and host the workshop. The Cooperative Research Centre for Developing Northern Australia (CRCNA) commissioned an Aquaculture Situational Analysis to understand the current situation and future challenges and opportunities for aquaculture in northern Australia. This facilitated stakeholder workshop brought together 85 key stakeholders and enablers from across northern Australia to (a) test, refine and gain buy-in for the 'Vision 2030 for aquaculture in northern Australia' and (b) prioritise recommendations to enable industry expansion. The workshop gathered current feedback for inclusion in the final CRCNA situational analysis report and for consideration in parallel strategies under development for the FRDC and a number of its industry partners (barramundi and prawns, in particular, developing their 5 year plans, and the National Aquaculture Council is looking to reinvigorate its strategic direction).
