Development of guidelines for quality assurance of Australian fisheries research and science information

Project number: 2014-009

Project Status:

Completed

Budget expenditure: $100,800.00

Principal Investigator: Andrew J. Penney

Organisation: Pisces Australis Pty Ltd

Project start/end date: 1 Oct 2014 - 21 Dec 2015

Contact:

FRDC

Need

Australia has experienced many of the crises of confidence relating to government decisions that have arisen internationally, such as those relating to pesticide use and human health concerns. In Australian fisheries, the most recent crisis of public confidence, and the direct impetus for this proposal, was the public and media debate in 2012 and 2013 on the reliability of scientific information used to support opposing views on the impacts of introducing a super-trawler into the Commonwealth Small Pelagic Fishery. This public debate criticised or questioned much of the scientific information used in support of recommendations and decisions relating to this fishery, as well as the processes whereby this information was obtained, analysed and provided in support of those decisions.

The need for some form of scientific quality assurance standard for Australian fisheries science arose initially from development of the Research and Science Information Standard for New Zealand Fisheries in 2010, and recognition that Australia did not have such a standard, despite facing many similar questions regarding quality and trustworthiness of science information. The events surrounding proposals to introduce a super-trawler into the SPF provided the final impetus for a proposal to develop a similar standard for Australian fisheries research and science information.

Objectives

1. Review recent national and international developments on science quality assurance principles, implementation guidelines and quality assurance processes relevant to Australian fisheries characteristics, management processes and requirements.

2. Prepare draft standard and guidelines for quality assurance of Australian research and science information intended or likely to inform fisheries policy and management decisions, including key principles for science quality, implementation guidelines and performance monitoring for science quality assurance processes.

3. Consult with fisheries agencies in other jurisdictions, as well as other relevant stakeholders, to ensure that the proposed science quality assurance guidelines are appropriate and implementable for all Australian fisheries, and potentially implementable for other science fields

4. Prepare an agency-specific plan for implementation of the science quality assurance key principles and quality assurance processes for AFMA, compatible with AFMA and Commonwealth fisheries requirements, capabilities and science procurement processes.