Project number: 2021-030
Project Status:
Current
Budget expenditure: $2,352,000.00
Principal Investigator: David C. Pietersen
Organisation: Western Rock Lobster Council Inc (WRLC)
Project start/end date: 14 Oct 2021 - 27 Jun 2024
Contact:
FRDC

Need

OPERATING ENVIRONMENT AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT UNCERTAINTY
Lengthy engagement/negotiation periods, lack of visibility, and complicated processes surrounding the Management Plan creates uncertainty for the fishers and hinders their ability to plan. DPIRD implements requirements and controls that specify how the industry operates which can impact business efficiency and cost. This is exacerbated by current market conditions. This project will undertake research to understand how to improve co-management and increased visibility of markets and trade environments driven by data and technology.
INCONSISTENT COMPLIANCE WHICH IS UNCLEAR AND DIFFICULT TO INTERPRET
Multiple layers of compliance and reporting are required (vessel, on board, catch) and are managed by different entities (DoT, AMSA, DPIRD). Processes are unclear, difficult to interpret, inconsistently applied and systems are unstable and poorly designed. This leads to difficulty to consistently meet requirements and unnecessary operating pressure for the fishers. There is a need to ework with these entities in a co-management approach to develop mutually beneficial solutions to increase efficiency for all parties. This project will undertake research to determine how digital technology can be applied to Industry compliance requirements (DoT, AMSA, DPIRD) to improve efficiencies and fishery sustainability.
TECHNOLOGY MATURITY & INDUSTRY CULTURE
There is no ongoing research into fishing technology to ensure the industry remains abreast of developments and responds accordingly. Additionally, this is a generational industry perceived to be reluctant to adopt new ways of working. Focused research will be undertaken to understand how the industry can apply technology and innovation to strengthen the industry’s position and provide the necessary training to do so.
INEFFICIENT TECHNOLOGY, PROCESSES AND KNOWLEDGE TO SUPPORT LOCAL SALES.
The 'back of boat sales' initiative creates retail challenges for fishers seeking to serve the local market effectively and efficiently. There is a need to undertake research to determine how the industry can apply digital technology to serve and engage the community more effectively while ensuring compliance to government requirements.
INDUSTRY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
There is little community understanding of the Industry while Industry engagement is inefficient. Undertake ongoing focused research to understand how digital technology can be applied to strengthen engagement.

Objectives

1. Resource co-management and improved control of compliance and operational costs
2. Provide members with greater financial and operational certainty
3. Leverage technology to drive GVP growth for future resource security
4. Traceability systems that tracks catch to plate allowing market diversification, increased confidence in the product and brand recognition
5. Increased sustainability through efficient precision fishing backed by robust data analytics platforms that provides insights from different data sources

Related research

Adoption
PROJECT NUMBER • 2022-063
PROJECT STATUS:
CURRENT

WRL Communication, Education and Engagement Program

1. Strengthen industry members' engagement: Increase the full participation by internal stakeholders in Council activities, to best enable the Council to represent the industry to government and other stakeholders. This includes industry engagement and communication of WRL IPA activities and R&D...
ORGANISATION:
Western Rock Lobster Council Inc (WRLC)
Communities