Australians have a strong connection to our aquatic world and enjoy some of the best seafood and most exciting recreational fishing in the world.
Our aquatic resources are recognised globally for their diversity and quality. The Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC) has an important role in providing robust research and innovation to support the needs of our fishing and aquaculture sectors and benefit the community.
Australia’s fishing and aquaculture sectors operate within a complex and rapidly evolving environment. A changing climate, fierce competition for access, extreme market volatility, increasing demand for social license, the need for data, proof of sustainability credentials, biosecurity threats, and an ageing workforce demand attention. Opportunities include the growing global demand for seafood, the requirement for healthy, nutritious food, reducing carbon footprint, lowering fuel costs and achieving premium prices for niche products. Best practice sustainability, participation in circular supply chains, research adoption through targeted extension, Indigenous economic opportunities, increased recreational participation and the emergence of artificial intelligence and digitalisation, will position us for the future.
The FRDC Research, Development and Extension Plan (RD&E Plan 2025-30) addresses this complex and changing environment and demonstrates how FRDC will deliver quality research to underpin evidence-based decision making. The Plan resulted from extensive consultation with fishing and aquaculture, government and research stakeholders.
We heard the need for continuity of stakeholder driven themes from the previous FRDC R&D Plan 2020-25, to deliver decadal-scale impact by addressing trends and drivers aligned to key ‘2030 visioned’ frameworks such as the National Fisheries Plan.
The RD&E Plan 2025-30 is underpinned by our core values (Sustainability, People, Knowledge, Trust) and our intention to create value by:
- Maintaining existing and developing new collaborative partnerships, including cross-sectoral and enduring programs.
- Understanding desired end states for complex issues and designing the steps needed to achieve those goals.
- Implementing innovative investment models to amplify impact by scaling early-stage ventures, and to build commercialisation pathways.
- Measuring progress to understand impactful change and ensure accountability.
Thank you to everyone who contributed to the development of this Plan – Indigenous, commercial wild catch and recreational fishers, aquaculturists, researchers, managers, people working in supply chains, government, non-governmental organisations and staff who shared their time and knowledge to develop the RD&E Plan 2025-30.
Dr Elizabeth (Beth) Woods OAM FRDC Chair
