The major need this project will aim to address is to build and enhance seafood industry representational capacity at the local and regional level. To achieve this, the project will meet the following specific needs for:

• novel ways to address barriers to the uptake of representative roles
• an entry through to intermediate-level training program which is a precursor to leadership training, and therefore contributes to a structured leadership training pathway
• training opportunities to upskill industry and non-industry representatives in areas of fisheries management principles, governance and decision-making processes, and basic representational skills, which use effective training delivery mechanisms and are supported by viable funding models

The needs this project targets are drawn directly from needs articulated in the background section of this proposal and in the following two reports.

Firstly, the FRDC’s People Development Program Plan 2008-2013has identified that there is “an urgent need to develop people within all sectors who have the skills to effectively contribute to debate and policy development for significant challenges confronting industry”. One of the objectives of the Program is therefore to “build industry capacity to drive change to achieve goals”.

To achieve this objective, the Program has recognized the following needs:
• strengthen governance and representational capabilities of industry organisations
• increase the capacity of industry organisations to represent the views of members
• enhance industry’s ability to contribute to debate and policy development
• build industry committee member competence and confidence

Secondly, the FRDC TRF Final Report ‘Understanding the Drivers of Fisher Engagement in Industry Bodies’ (Project 2009/335) has identified the need for the following:
• governance training program for fishing industry associations;
• industry associations to focus on representation as their major role;
• leadership training to be developed for teams of industry, and to be strategically funded.

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Large scale artificial reef construction, other than scuttling vessels, has not previously been attempted in Australia; consequently there is a significant knowledge gap. During the development stage of the NSW offshore artificial reefs project and the EA the Project Managers need a thorough understanding of the practical elements of reef manufacture, deployment, monitoring and subsequent management to deliver the best possible outcomes. The best way to ensure DPI and Australia adopt state-of-the-art management is by conducting site visits and in-depth discussion with experienced artificial reef manufacturers, installers, managers and researchers. This will allow better planning and management of artificial reefs in NSW with broader applications Australia wide.

This project addresses the FRDC strategic challenges of ‘Natural Resources Sustainability’ (NRP-1 & RRDP-2) by developing tools to assist in broader scale assessments of the impacts of the recreational fishing sector. It also meets the challenges of ‘Resource Access and Resource Allocation’ (NRP-1 & RRDP-1) by developing methods to examine economic, social and ecological impacts of planning policies; developing processes to inform and define inter-sectoral resource allocation; developing methods to determine allocation between different recreational activities. It also addresses ‘Response to Demand; Profitability’ (NRP-3 & RRDP–4) by increasing the profitability of businesses supporting recreational fishing; developing the capacity to produce more fish for the recreational fishing sector; increasing the quality and enjoyment of recreational fishing experiences and taking advantage of expanding fishing tourism opportunities by providing sustainable quality fishing opportunities within the recreational fishing sector. The addresses ‘People Development’ (NRP-4 & RRDP-7) by enhancing opportunities for information and technology transfer; promoting best-practice training, developing industry experts to bridge the gap between Australian and overseas countries and enhancing scientific skills. It meets the challenges of ‘Community and Consumer Support’ (NRP-4 & RRDP-7) by communicating the benefits of government and industry investment in R&D.