National RD&E Framework

The final draft of the National RD&E Strategy for Fishing and Aquaculture was endorsed by Ministers at Primary Industries Ministerial Council (PIMC) on the 23rd April. This national strategy establishes the future direction to improve the focus, efficiency and effectiveness of RD&E to support Australia’s fishing and aquaculture industry.

Background

Over the past three years Australian governments and primary industries have come to the conclusion that to remain globally competitive Australia needs a more national and co-ordinated approach to rural research, development and extension.

The primary industries RD&E system was seen to be prone to duplication and fragmentation, leading to rising overhead costs and constraints on technology investment. To address these challenges, Australian Governments through their Primary Industries Ministerial Council (PIMC) and the Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council have moved to create a National Research, Development and Extension Framework. Sitting underneath the National Framework will be 14 sectoral strategies.

Development

The development and implementation of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture RD&E Strategy has been led by a working group that includes FRDC, Victorian Department of Primary Industries, the Department of Primary Industries and Resources SA, and the Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment.

The seven steps to develop the national strategy:

1. Sector overview
2. Current resource analysis (capability audit)
3. Future RD&E plan
4. Capability analysis against the plan
5. Change plan
6. Consultation and approvals
7. Implementation arrangements

Sector overview

The purpose of the sector overview has been to undertake a strategic review and analysis of the business environment for the fisheries and aquaculture industries (commercial, recreational and indigenous) to support the establishment of a national RD&E framework.

Capability audit

The purpose of the audit has been to assess the existing RD&E capability in the field of fisheries and aquaculture, and their aquatic ecology and biodiversity, within a national context, and including all research providers in this field, and to identify the gaps in the current RD&E capability in the fields of fisheries and aquaculture with respect to meeting defined future sector strategic priorities. (step 4)

Consultation

Two broad stakeholder workshops for the National RD&E framework were held during 2009. Around fifty participants attended these workshops and included Directors of Fisheries, fisheries managers, industry, researchers, research agencies, extension, the university sector, research funders and managers, and emerging leaders in a number of areas.

A range of meetings were also conducted with industry sectors, research agencies, and cross sector gatherings. Importantly, an “open door” approach has being taken on submissions and contributions.

Implementation

The Strategy document will now be readied for publication and transition arrangements will commence to move responsibility from the working group to the new National Priorities Forum that will be charged with the Strategy’s implementation.

This high level stakeholder partnership between industry and governments will be responsible for delivering the planned outcomes of the strategy, and ensuring it remains relevant to stakeholders. The first meeting of this group is scheduled for the end of July 2010.Affiliate professor Rob Lewis has been appointed as Chair.

Also in development are a national Research Providers’ Network, and a national Extension Network. These groups will work closely with each other, and the priorities forum. CSIRO will chair the Research Providers’ Network in the first year.

At the whole of primary industry sector level, the R&D subcommittee of PISC will continue working on cross-over issues such as intellectual property, national research access, and extension.

For further information contact Jo-Anne Ruscoe by email to jo-anne.ruscoe@frdc.com.au or telephone (02) 6285 0400.

Documents and links

PIMC approved RDE strategy document

 Communiqués

• Communiqué 1, Adelaide Workshop 26 August 2009
• Communiqué 2, 20 October 2009
• Communiqué 3, 22 December 2009
• Communiqué 4, 5 March 2010
• Communiqué 5, 5 May 2010

Reports

• RD&E Capability Audit Final Report
• Fishing and Aquaculture Sector Overview
• Stakeholder Workshop July 2009 
• Stakeholder Workshop November 2009

Presentations 

• Context – The Primary Industries Ministerial Council and why we are developing a National RD&E Framework (Bruce Kefford)
• Scope of the National RD&E Framework for Fishing and Aquaculture (Robert Gott)
• Drivers for Change and Possible RD&E Priorities (Patrick Hone)
• Sector Overview (Ewan Colquhoun)
• Possible Future (ideal) RD&E Framework – (Mehdi Doroudi)
• Sector overview - Fishery Manager (Heather Brayford)
• Sector overview - Recreational (Len Olyott)
• Sector overview - Wild fisheries (Neil MacDonald)
• Sector overview - Aquaculture (Brett McCallum)

Links

Ministerial Council

• Statement of Intent

Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

• National Primary Industries Research Development and Extension framework website