A successful World Fisheries Congress 2021 

Like many of our stakeholders, some of the FRDC staff participated in the recent virtual World Fisheries Congress 2021 (WFC). The congress saw 1100 delegates from over 60 countries converge online for four days to discuss the future of the world's fisheries. The virtual format provided a thoroughly enjoyable and highly stimulating forum that is a model for how we can connect better in the future. Congratulations to the WFC Organising Committee for coordinating this successful event – especially given the ongoing COVID-19 challenges.  

It was great to see so many familiar faces (or at least their online avatars) throughout the weeklong virtual gathering. It was also exciting to see a large number of presentations that extended the excellent research and development work being undertaken through FRDC-funded activities. These presentations highlighted the breadth of FRDC-funded research – tropical to sub-Antarctic – as well as the diversity of our research community. The WFC also saw the extension of: 

• The Adaptation of fisheries management to climate change handbook funded through FRDC project 2016-059 

• The Stock Assessment Toolbox funded through FRDC project 2018-148 

Thanks to all who dropped in on the FRDC virtual stand to have a chat with one of our staff. Please see our new FRDC corporate video that promotes our research community. 

FRDC funding round update 

The latest open call funding round for the FRDC closed on 16 August. There were approximately 50 applications received addressing the nominated research priorities in the call as well as a range of applicant-identified needs.  

These requests for funds have been evaluated by a pool of external reviewers and the FRDC Research & Investment team. Applicants can expect to be informed on the outcomes and next stages of their application evaluation shortly.  

What happens once applications are received? 

Once an application is received by the FRDC, an evaluation process begins. The applications are matched to any nominated priorities, assigned to a Portfolio Manager and external reviewers are identified. These external reviewers could include members from our jurisdictional Research Advisory Committees (RACs), Industry Partnership Agreements (IPAs), Coordination Programs, technical experts and/or end users. For applications seeking funds from the IPAs, the relevant committees will evaluate and provide recommendations for funding to the FRDC. Evaluations are no longer undertaken as part of RAC or Coordination Program meetings. 

Applications are assessed on attractiveness and feasibility as per the following table in line with the FRDC’s Investment in Research and Development Policy. The Policy also outlines other elements of consideration that include risk, avoiding duplication and achieving balanced investment. 

The FRDC management team collates information from these external reviews and prepares an evaluation sheet following similar criteria outlined above and makes a recommendation to either approve or reject the application. Occasionally, there are further questions or further information that may be required to complete an evaluation of an application. On these occasions, the applicant will provide correspondence outlining the further information required to complete the evaluation of an application. 

Once the evaluation is complete, the application is provided to the FRDC Board or senior management, such as the Managing Director, for final decision. The applicant will be notified soon after, via a decision notification email outlining the outcome of the evaluation process. 

Schematic outlining the FRDC’s planning and investment process. 

FRDC’s advisory structures 

The FRDC consults with a network of advisory structures to seek assistance in the nomination of investment priorities in research, development, and extension against the FRDC’s R&D Plan 2020-25. These advisory structures include:  

• 12 Industry Partnership Agreements 

• 8 jurisdictional Research Advisory Committees 

• 4 Coordination Programs 

• The Australian Fisheries Management Forum (representing the Directors of Fisheries from the 8 Jurisdictions) 

• The Research Provider Network (representing the major fisheries research agencies and universities) 

• The three representative organisations of the FRDC, appointed under the legislation – Seafood Industry Australia, Commonwealth Fisheries Association, and Recfish Australia (Australian Recreational and Sport Fishing Industry Confederation Inc.)  

• The FRDC also involves the Indigenous Reference Group and the Australian Recreational Fishing Foundation in all representational organisation activities.  

Each of these groups provides the FRDC with insights into needs, priorities and opportunities requiring investment. To support collaboration and the sharing of issues and solutions, the FRDC facilitates an annual stakeholder workshop. The first of these workshops for the FRDC’s R&D Plan 2020-2025 will be held later this month with subsequent workshops to be held in April of each year to coincide with the development of the FRDC’s Annual Operational Plan that outlines future investment areas for the nominated financial year. 

Contact the Research, Development, and Investment team if you would like more information – programs@frdc.com.au. 

Research Advisory Committee update 

The new Research Advisory Committees met virtually for the first time since their inductions in July. The meetings provided an opportunity for the committees to work through the process of identifying stakeholder needs and aligning priorities to the FRDC’s R&D Plan 2020-2025. The FRDC encourages all stakeholders to visit the jurisdictional Research Advisory Committees webpages.  

All committees will meet again throughout September and October to finalise the nominations of priorities to submit to the FRDC. These will then be collated and disseminated in a subsequent call for applications. It is anticipated that the next call for applications will be in November 2021.  

Contact the Research, Development, and Investment team if you would like more information – programs@frdc.com.au; or the relevant FRDC Advisory Group contact. 

New and improved FRDC website 

The FRDC website has received an update to provide a new look and a more user-friendly experience. This website allows users to search current and completed FRDC projects, access FRDC corporate documents including the R&D Plan 2020-25, FRDC’s partners and, importantly, information on applying for funding, the call for applications and FRDC’s reporting guidelines. Check it out and if you have any feedback, please send it here. 

Milestone submissions via Fishnet 

This is a reminder that all deliverables for your active projects are now to be submitted via Fishnet. They are no longer being accepted by email.  

This allows all partners to easily submit reports and receive a notification that the submission was successful. This process will also allow for streamlining of the FRDC’s review of the submitted deliverable and improve turnaround times. More information on how to submit your milestone via Fishnet can be found at the quick start guide.  

Increased FRDC capacity to affect culture change 

The FRDC has identified that achieving the vision by 2030 of “a collaborative, vibrant fishing and aquaculture, industry creating diverse benefits from aquatic resources, and celebrated by the Australian and global community” will require a shift in the beliefs people hold, their capability and capacity to adopt new ways of thinking and behaving, and the culture they operate within and contribute towards. This is the basis for Enabling Strategy 4 of the FRDC’s R&D Plan 2020-2025 – Build Capacity and Capability. 

To help deliver this strategy, a new position at the FRDC has been created, the Capacity, Capability and Culture Change Manager. This role is to develop a strategy, informed by stakeholder input, to help build the capacity, capability and enhance the culture of the fishing and aquaculture community.  

Sally Roberts has been appointed to this new position. Sally joins the FRDC from Dairy Australia where she worked extensively in bringing change in a challenging environment to the dairy industry as their People Development lead. Welcome Sally. As Sally immerses herself in the fishing and aquaculture community and its culture, she will be engaging with stakeholders to better understand perceived capacity and capability needs as well as the existing programs of work.   

Transforming FRDC’s approach to extension and communication  

Another underpinning Enabling Strategy to assist in the delivery of the FRDC’s R&D Plan 2020-2025 is Strengthen Adoption for Transformative Change. Jamie Allnutt has taken on the role of Transformational Extension and Adoption Manager at the FRDC. Jamie is exploring options and opportunities to improve extension and adoption to realise transformational change including regional extension capacity, re-establishing an extension network and improve mechanisms for uptake of knowledge generated through FRDC investments.  

Kate Harvey started in early October as General Manager Stakeholder Engagement. Kate will work with Jamie to further improve the benefits that stakeholders receive from the FRDC.  

External funding opportunities 

The Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) has recently released research priorities for AFMA funding for Commonwealth managed fisheries. More information here. 

Projects approved since last update in June 2021 

NOTE: some projects may be in the process of contracting