The Australian Shellfish Quality Assurance Advisory Committee (ASQAAC) is a volunteer organisation comprised of members including state regulators, industry representatives and associated stakeholders including researchers, Safefish, seafood importers and laboratories. As the program sets the requirements for market access in Australia through the Australian Shellfish Quality Assurance Program (ASQAP), and influences industry's ability to grow and further develop our low input, carbon friendly and job intensive industry. The ASQAP is best practice, and ASQAAC strives to include safe and appropriately innovative and validated measures to ensure market access is maximised - important for both COVID recovery and future proofing the national shellfish industry.
There is an on-going need to provide national guidance on ASQAP interpretation and delivery for our industry that has been highlighted by both the succession needs of the well-established programs in SA, Tas and NSW, and by the emerging shellfish industries in WA, NT, and Qld. The market failure for systemisation and training material and continuous improvement stems from the underpinning knowledge of this topic being niche and highly specialised.
In the words of the ASQAAC Chair Phil Baker: “The last decade has seen the exit of significant knowledge and history with long-term regulators being replaced with new recruits to the technically complex shellfish regulatory role. Currently there is little to guide them, particularly as ASQAP has transitioned to an outcome-based program. The vital knowledge required is often learned through experience.” This program aims to take advantage of the pool of experts that do exist in Australia, to the benefit of all existing and developing programs.

This project is focused on improving industry and government preparedness to respond to nationally significant exotic disease outbreaks and in doing so, protect or minimise the impacts of exotic diseases on profitability and productivity. There are national preparedness arrangements in place however (fortunately) many of these have yet to be used in a real-world response, including the AQUAVETPLAN response manuals which outline technical response arrangements and the draft Aquatic Deed which outlines how costs and managing emergency responses will be shared among industry and government. Prospective parties are currently considering whether they will ratify the draft Aquatic Deed. This project is not dependent on whether the deed is ratified and can be adapted to the circumstances of existing response arrangements.

This project addresses the need to test existing contingency planning arrangements for some nationally important exotic diseases to increase shared understanding among industry and governments of their responsibilities and capabilities that they can bring to a response. The main objective is to test arrangements and identify any gaps in peace time for how a response can be undertaken most cost effectively. For governments, this includes understanding operational aspects of industry including assets that could be used for a response. For industry, it includes understanding any gaps in preparedness in particular operational gaps and identifying where and how they could be addressed in peace time.

Scenario-based discussion exercises are a cost-effective way of validating the procedures or processes and are valuable for building the knowledge and preparedness of participating organisations (governments and industry). Conducting a series of exercises based on existing contingency arrangements will contribute to closing the gaps between current capability and current needs and improve levels of preparedness for priority exotic diseases.

Globally, Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs) and artificial reefs are increasingly used tools to enhance fisheries – particularly recreational fisheries. Over the last decade there has been greater use of these tools in Australia. In recent years, FADs have been increasingly deployed including in Commonwealth waters for the purpose of enhancing recreational fisheries managed by state governments. There are concerns that the recent rapid deployment of FADs, particularly in Commonwealth waters have negatively impacted the operations of some Commonwealth fisheries such as the East Coast Tuna and Billfish Fishery. There are also marine safety concerns which extends beyond just commercial fishing vessels. There is a need to better understand the regulatory environment for FADs and artificial reefs to ensure that benefits can be realised while impacts avoided or mitigated. The regulatory environment for the deployment of FADs (and artificial reefs) in Commonwealth waters is potentially different from that when they are deployed in state waters. It also extends beyond fisheries legislation and includes the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act 1999), the Sea and Submerged Lands Act 1973, and the Navigation Act 2012. The administration of these Acts and associated subordinate legislation crosses several government agencies. In relation to the EPBC Act 1999, the Commonwealth marine area is a Matter of National Environmental Significance (MNES). There is however little specific guidance as to whether FADs potentially impact MNES and how any impacts can be mitigated. In addition to better understand the complex regulatory environment, there is a need to develop more effective and fit for purpose engagement strategies with all stakeholders. There is a need for national project as it is an issue which is now cross jurisdictional.

Please note we have attached responses from three State Ministers indicating their support for a collaborative approach to this issue.

OPERATING ENVIRONMENT AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT UNCERTAINTY
Lengthy engagement/negotiation periods, lack of visibility, and complicated processes surrounding the Management Plan creates uncertainty for the fishers and hinders their ability to plan. DPIRD implements requirements and controls that specify how the industry operates which can impact business efficiency and cost. This is exacerbated by current market conditions. This project will undertake research to understand how to improve co-management and increased visibility of markets and trade environments driven by data and technology.
INCONSISTENT COMPLIANCE WHICH IS UNCLEAR AND DIFFICULT TO INTERPRET
Multiple layers of compliance and reporting are required (vessel, on board, catch) and are managed by different entities (DoT, AMSA, DPIRD). Processes are unclear, difficult to interpret, inconsistently applied and systems are unstable and poorly designed. This leads to difficulty to consistently meet requirements and unnecessary operating pressure for the fishers. There is a need to ework with these entities in a co-management approach to develop mutually beneficial solutions to increase efficiency for all parties. This project will undertake research to determine how digital technology can be applied to Industry compliance requirements (DoT, AMSA, DPIRD) to improve efficiencies and fishery sustainability.
TECHNOLOGY MATURITY & INDUSTRY CULTURE
There is no ongoing research into fishing technology to ensure the industry remains abreast of developments and responds accordingly. Additionally, this is a generational industry perceived to be reluctant to adopt new ways of working. Focused research will be undertaken to understand how the industry can apply technology and innovation to strengthen the industry’s position and provide the necessary training to do so.
INEFFICIENT TECHNOLOGY, PROCESSES AND KNOWLEDGE TO SUPPORT LOCAL SALES.
The 'back of boat sales' initiative creates retail challenges for fishers seeking to serve the local market effectively and efficiently. There is a need to undertake research to determine how the industry can apply digital technology to serve and engage the community more effectively while ensuring compliance to government requirements.
INDUSTRY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
There is little community understanding of the Industry while Industry engagement is inefficient. Undertake ongoing focused research to understand how digital technology can be applied to strengthen engagement.