Workplace Health and Safety in Fisheries and Aquaculture

Published: 29 June 2021 Updated: 24 March 2025

Table of contents

Overview

Workplace fatalities and injuries in fishing and aquaculture make it one of the most dangerous occupations in Australia.

The National Safety and Wellbeing Committee (SWC), jointly funded by FRDC and the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) is a four-year initiative which integrates earlier FRDC funded safety R&D initiatives including SeSafe and Fish Safe.

The committee, led by Seafood Industry Australia comprises national industry leaders, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) and FRDC.

The SWC will work towards minimisation of harm both physically and psychosocially in the wild-catch, aquaculture and post-harvest sectors, providing direction and leadership to achieve a safer seafood industry for the long term future. They will work closely with industry, community, regulatory and research partners to achieve positive cultural change in the importance of safety for the Australian fishing and aquaculture sectors.

The Terms of Reference developed by the members to guide initiatives can be found below:

Seafood Industry Australia Safety and Wellbeing Committee Terms of Reference

Research management

The National Safety and Wellbeing Committee comprises of fishing and aquaculture stakeholders, AMSA and FRDC.

Key contacts:

Jo Marshall - Wellbeing Programs Manager (Seafood Industry Australia) E: jo@seafoodindustryaustralia.com.au
Sally Roberts - FRDC Capability and Capacity Manager E: sally.roberts@frdc.com.au

Marine Safety

The National Safety and Wellbeing Committee commits research funding to four key areas as part of their Roadmap 2024-2027:

Safety Culture: A commitment to fostering positive behaviours and attitudes toward workplace safety systems and processes, emphasising continuous learning and improvement.
Research and Technology: Increased awareness of emerging fit-for-purpose technologies and Research and Development outcomes to improve workplace safety.
Training and Education: Increased uptake and engagement by industry of workplace safety and training programs and education tools
Partnerships and Advocacy: Partnerships with government agencies, industry stakeholder engagement and best practice to inform and lead decision-making at regulatory level.