FRDC Stakeholders

FRDC works with a diverse and geographically-dispersed group of stake holders and the four main sectors of fishing and aquaculture (aquaculture, commercial fishing, Indigenous fishing and recreational fishing) whom are not mutually exclusive. For example, Indigenous Fishers may participate in customary fishing, conduct aquaculture and commercial fishing as well as fish recreationally.

 

FRDC’s stakeholders and partners include:

• Federal, state and territory governments, including fisheries and natural resources managers
• All aspects of fishing and aquaculture
• The Australian community, on whose behalf aquatic natural resources are managed
• Seafood consumers
• The research community, including universities, government fisheries organisations, further education organisations (e.g. TAFE), international research organisations and private research providers.

 

Four ministerially-declared representative organisations to which the FRDC is accountable under legislation:

1. Seafood Industry Australia (representing the seafood industry at a national level)
2. Australian Recreational and Sport Fishing Industry Confederation Inc. trading as Recfish Australia (representing recreational and sport fishers)
3. Commonwealth Fisheries Association (representing commercial fishers who operate in Commonwealth fisheries)
4. National Aquaculture Council (representing the aquaculture industry)

 

FRDC also regularly engages with key forums related to fishing and aquaculture or the environment in which it operates:

• The Governance Committee that supports the National Fishing and Aquaculture RD&E Strategy and the National Research Providers Network which represents fishery and aquaculture researchers (FRDC is a member of both groups)
• National Marine Science Committee
• The Australian Fisheries Management Forum, representing government agencies responsible for fisheries management (FRDC is an observer)
• The FRDC subprograms and coordination programs.

 

Advisory Groups

The FRDC works with its stakeholders to achieve the requirements of their RD&E plan through Advisory Groups (Partnerships).  These advisory groups can be at the jurisdiction level (Research Advisory Committees - RACs) or sector level (Industry Partnership Agreements - IPAs), and provide key information to the FRDC on the prioritisation and assessment of research.  Additionally, the FRDC has developed a number of Subprograms to provide a higher level of coordination, integration and communication for areas of national significance.  Information on each can be found on their pages underneath the Partners page.

 

Stakeholder Workshop

Each year the FRDC holds a workshop with key advisory groups to set the priorities for the coming year and future funding rounds. Details and presentation from the workshop are available on the Stakeholder Workshop page.