Presentations to the Fourth FRAB National Workshop indicated an increased level of sophistication in many FRAB decision-making processes. There has been a proliferation of criteria for project selection, increased emphasis on strategic plans and varying mechanisms for ensuring user group support. There are also varying degrees of integration of the FRAB process within State and Commonwealth fisheries management and research systems and important unresolved questions related to the interaction between FRABs and Subprograms. The progressive improvement in the general quality of projects from a wide spectrum of fund-seekers has also increased the need for a more rigorous evaluation process by FRABs.

There is thus the need for a review to provide a draft discussion paper for the Fifth National Workshop which:

- documents the various FRAB and Subprogram operations and provides a synthesis of the different arrangements,

- identifies the best practices by the FRABs,

- provides suggestions for improving the FRAB and Subprogram process and,

- provides useful guidelines for consideration by FRABs at the Workshop.

Effectively this would be a timely review of the FRAB system after a period of considerable individual change and development. Without exception there is agreement by all FRAB Chairpersons that such a review is required at the present time to further improve and make more cohesive a system which is of fundamental importance to the decision-making of the FRDC.

In October 1998, key demersal fishers and NT Fisheries Division officers held a meeting to review the current knowledge and understanding of the Demersal Fishery and the areas of knowledge that are still required to assure its viable development. Participants identified two impediments to the expansion of the demersal fishery:

1. the inability to consistently supply fish to the market; and
2. catching fish at a profitable rate.

The variation in catch rates are substantial enough make the difference between profit and significant loss. Sensitivity analysis on projected catch rates and cost structures support the view that there is potential to achieve an adequate, if not attractive, level of profitability in the fishery with passive fishing methods (Cann, 1996). This work has shown that profitability is quite sensitive to catch rates and market prices, with a marginal increase in either prices or landings, making the difference between a profitable or uneconomical fishing operation.

There is no long-term trend apparent in the CPUE data, and fishers have presented a number of reasons why both seasonal and inter-annual catch rates are so variable. These include water temperature changes in concert with El Nino events, seismic surveys conducted by oil exploration companies and limited experimentation with a wider range of gear types. Further, there are other factors, which may affect profitability such as vessels used, operating costs, debt structure and training/skill of industry members. The meeting agreed that these and other issues must be formally addressed if the fishery is to develop further. It also identified a number of specific research projects (see B14).

Industry and government agreed that the best way address issues affecting profitability would be to employ relevant specialists to participate in a workshop with industry, researchers and managers. This was seen as the most effective way to exchange ideas, share experience, reach agreement on how to best improve profitability and identify what research is needed to improve industry viability.