Update on FRDC call for investment opportunities

November 2023 Call for investments

The November Call for Investments closed on 16 February.

• At the close of the Call, 54 applications were received.
• The cumulative funding request of these applications is $15.7M
• Applications came from 39 unique organisations.
• 15 first time Principal Investigators applied.
• 37 applications addressed a specific priority in the Call.

Applications are now undergoing the investment review process which includes seeking external peer review of applications.

June 2024 Call for investments

The FRDC Research Advisory Committees (RACs) are currently meeting to evaluate stakeholder research priorities for consideration which will feed into the next FRDC Investment Round. Keep your eye out for the June 2024 FRDC call for investments.

Milestone Submission

Reminder that as we enter the end of the financial year it is very important for research providers to submit milestones and any other reporting.  The Stakeholder Engagement team at FRDC very much appreciate early advice on any planned communication activities. 

ASSA call for applications

FRDC has just announced a call for applications that address research, development & extension (RD&E) priorities nominated by the Australian Sustainable Seaweed Alliance (ASSA) and FRDC under the Australian Government Seaweed Initiative. Mr Lindsay Hermes, CEO, ASSA should be contacted if additional information is sought on any of the projects (lindsay.hermes@seaweedalliance.org.au)

The nominated RD&E priorities for investment are outlined on the FRDC website. Applications that address multiple priorities are encouraged where practical. Note that all of the projects funded under these priorities must be completed by 10 April 2024.

Futures of Seafood

The ‘Futures of Seafood’ (FRDC-Project 2023-092) is aimed at mapping an evidence-based future for Australia’s Indigenous, commercial, recreational fisheries and aquaculture sectors.

Expected to take approximately 18 months, the project will gather and analyse data to support sector participation in the current ocean estate, for the medium to long-term direction of all the sectors.  

This initiative is reliant on both data and insights. Information will be sought through a series of data gathering workshops, surveys and interviews.

Some key members of the Futures of Seafood project – including the Blue Economy CRC (BECRC), Seafood Industry Australia (SIA) and FRDC – met recently to discuss the strategic direction of the project. An output will be the development of a digital version of a marine atlas including information on other marine users such as the emerging offshore renewable sector. It will also include supply chain data, source to sink of seafood, economic and social benefits and scenario analysis of current and future states.

Rather than delivering a static report, the project will develop a “live” tool that continuously compiles data feeds to display “live” maps and the ability to update the fisheries and aquaculture ecosystem through time, especially as planning and decisions evolve. FRDC will provide internal resources to help steer the project and to provide guidance.

Governance arrangements for the project are also progressing with invitations sent to potential members of the oversight committee, the jurisdictional committees and the technical and data group, as well as ongoing dialogue with sector and jurisdictional peak groups.

Seafood Careers platform

Seafood careers has been launched, www.seafoodcareers.com.au (previously referred to as AgUp) in partnership with Seafood Industry Australia, provides a centralised location for employment and development information across fishing and aquaculture. Version 1 – includes over 90 roles and 120 courses/training opportunities, with the platform also enabling access to career pathways. Stakeholder videos showcasing what working in seafood looks like, along with additional content, imagery and functionality will be added prior to the industry launch in July 2024.

Sustainable Ocean Plan Taskforce - Update

• The Australian Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) is developing a national Sustainable Ocean Plan.
• The plan will protect our marine environment and support our growing ocean economy.
• As a part of the process, a Sustainable Ocean Plan Fisheries and Aquaculture Workshop was held virtually in November 2023 and DCCEEW has published the ‘what we heard’ summary from the workshop on their website.
• Key findings included:
  • Historical interactions between industry and government initiatives have negatively influenced the sectors’ perceptions.
  • Longer-term certainty of operating environment is needed to support growth in fisheries and aquaculture.
  • Some participants felt domestic regulation is misaligned and too precautionary, thereby impacting competitiveness.

Further information on the plan can be found on the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water website.

Kicking off the FRDC’s ‘Sea Change’ project

• Sea Change – led by Professor Gretta Pecl, Director, Centre for Marine Socioecology, Uni of Tas – is a key investment from FRDC’s Climate Resilience program.
• The purpose of this national project is to increase capacity within commercial sectors for climate change adaptation and resilience through a co-design approach that will involve a number of fisheries and aquaculture operations.
• As the project gains momentum and looks to extend into the states and territories – FRDC Extension Officers will play an important role, working with the project team to connect to stakeholders.

Agrifood Data Exchange

The Australian Agricultural Data Exchange (AADX) has completed its technology partner selection and will be partnering with Eratos to deliver the AADX. Eratos is now working closely with AADX foundation members to identify relevant and impactful pilot studies to demonstrate the full potential of the AADX. FRDC has already been working with Eratos as part of FRDC project 2022-176: Increasing food security through liberation of fishing and aquaculture data giving Fishing & Aquaculture a head start in solving data challenges using the data exchange concept. FRDC is already working on integrating the Data Exchange into several existing projects. Furthermore, FRDC and Eratos will be working together to bring together guidance to inform what it is required to be ‘Exchange ready’. To keep updated of project progress sign up to the newsletter.

Circularity 2022-2025 Program – start of workshop series

• The project team associated with FRDC’s Circular Economy Program (2021-133) has been hosting a series of circular economy workshops – both online and face-to-face.
• The face-to-face event in Merimbula was able to capitalise on the collaboration between our program and the Bega Regional Circularity program.
• Through these events a number of solutions, opportunities and future collaborations were identified with themes such as plastics, organics and energy, suggested.

Business Research and Innovation Initiative (BRII) program for Renewables and Low Emissions Feasibility

• Department of Industry, Science and Resources (DISR) and FRDC hosted a webinar to provide information about the opportunity to apply for BRII funding to reduce carbon emissions in the commercial fishing sector.
• BRII invites creators, innovators, start-ups and SMEs to apply for a competitive grant of up to $100,000 to develop solutions for increasing energy efficiency in commercial fishing operations.
• Successful grant recipients who can demonstrate a successful project feasibility, may be eligible to apply for a subsequent competitive grant of up to $1 million to develop proof of concept.
• Applications close Thursday 18 April 2024 5:00pm AEDT.
• Further information is available on the BRII website.

Finnovation

The FRDC Board recently approved a new investment fund. Finnovation was developed because Australian fishing and aquaculture have traditionally underutilised investors and start-up/scale-up companies (early-stage small to medium enterprises; SMEs) to create value through commercialisation of novel solutions to sector challenges. Proposed details of the new fund are outlined below:

• The Finnovation fund will work with an investor partner (e.g. venture capital/angel investor) to build a diverse community of co-investors, business support programs (incubators/accelerators) and early-stage SMEs.

• The fund will identify and invest in companies developing innovations that provide impactful solutions to F&A challenges in Australia.
• Indicative focus areas could include - Indigenous-led initiatives, sustainable fishing, disease prevention, aquaculture innovation, ecosystem regeneration, precision fishing, climate change resilience, circular economy, biotechnology, genomics, Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence and data analytics.
• Investments will be consistent with FRDC’s R&D Plan to develop technologies, innovations or opportunities directly related to the Australian F&A sectors and will have a high impact for supply chain participants/members.
• Finnovation will focus on opportunities beyond Australian F&A, that have the potential to transform the supply chain and sector participants/members while building sector capability and capacity for entrepreneurial thinking and innovative community engagement.
• The Fund is expected to be operational later in 2024.

2024 Status of Australian Stock Reports; and Shark and Ray Report Card

Work on the Status of Australian Fish Stocks (SAFS) Reports 6th edition is proceeding well.

• The next (and sixth) edition of SAFS is aiming for completion by authors around Easter. FRDC will share the final report on its website and promote its availability.
• This edition of SAFS contains over 150 species / species groups
• FRDC also recently published the 2023 Australian Shark and Ray Report Card – available online. The expanded Shark and Ray Report Card covers and assesses 331 species (341 stocks), of which 230 stocks have been assessed as sustainable at current levels of fishing.

United Nations Ocean Decade Actions

Four FRDC projects have been endorsed under the United Nations Ocean Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development 2021-2030 framework.

They are, ‘Cross sector collaboration grows circular economy’, ‘Creating Capability, Capacity & Culture Change’, ‘Climate resilience for fishing and aquaculture’ and the CSIRO-led ‘Healthcheck for Australian fisheries‘ activating sustainability reporting.

These endorsements are recognition that the projects will play a central role in supporting the Ocean Decade mission to catalyse transformative ocean science solutions for sustainable development, connecting people and the ocean, to achieve the Ocean Decade vision of ‘the science we need for the ocean we want’.

For further information please contact: Jennifer.marshall@frdc.com.au or jamin.forbes@frdc.com.au.  To keep informed about the Ocean Decade follow the Ocean Decade Australia web site or subscribe to their newsletter at www.oceandecadeaustralia.org    

Ropeless Fishing Workshop

• On 29 February 2024 OceanWatch Australia hosted a workshop and webinar to showcase progress on innovations in ropeless fishing gear.
• While there is interest in this technology for the prevention of whale entanglements with fishing gear, this technology might also reduce gear loss and waste.
• FRDC supported an OceanWatch-led industry bursary program to attend the International Ropeless Fishing Symposium at the end of 2023.
• Videos from each FRDC bursary recipient can be found on the OceanWatch website

Fisheries Climate Briefings

• FRDC has hosted several National Climate Briefings lead by Alistair Hobday (CSIRO) and Claire Spillman (Bureau of Meteorology).
• These briefings discuss existing marine warming events in the South-East and Northern waters that are likely to extend into Autumn.  Indications are that there is not enough evidence to claim a return of a La Nina oceanographic event. A La Nina event reduces the likelihood of marine warming on the East coast and increases the likelihood of marine warming on the West coast. 
• The videos are available on FRDC’s YouTube channel

Review of Australian Animal Welfare Strategy (AAWS)

• The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry has commenced public consultation on the renewal of the Australian Animal Welfare Strategy (AAWS).
• $5 million over four years has been committed for the development of the renewed AAWS, to provide a framework for a national approach to animal welfare in Australia. The development of the renewed AAWS will be jointly led by the Commonwealth, state and territory governments, informed by stakeholder engagement.
• Including nearly all animals, the AAWS will be released in chapters, each dedicated to one of six animal groups, with the final strategy expected in 2027. More information is available on the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry website.
• You are invited to share your views and insights on the challenges and opportunities for animal welfare in Australia via the Have Your Say platform – link below: www.agriculture.gov.au/haveyoursay/aaws.  The survey closes AEST 4pm Monday 20 May 2024.

Seafood Directions in Hobart on 10-12 September 2024

Seafood Directions was established in 1999 by FRDC and the former Australian Seafood Industry Council (ASIC), and we continue to support Seafood Industry Australia to run this important biennial event.

FRDC Principal Investigators are encouraged to promote their work by submitting an abstract for presentation at Seafood Directions.  The FRDC Stakeholder Engagement team are keen to hear your ideas for presentation of sessions that you believe will enhance the adoption for your research findings. Key dates are outlined below:

• Abstract submissions for Seafood Directions are open now and close on 15 May 2024.
• Early bird registrations to attend Seafood Directions, close 4 June 2024. You can register via the Seafood Directions website.

Seafood Directions is a networking and knowledge exchange platform as well as an opportunity to collaborate within our industry. As such, relevant sector organisations/groups are invited to host workshops, annual general meetings, or side meetings in and around the conference program. If you or your organisation are interested in holding a side event or workshop please contact Jasmin at jasmin@seafoodindustryaustralia.com.au to discuss further details or express your interest in hosting a session.

FRDC Board

Mr John Williams AM, completed his term as Chair of the FRDC Board on 9 March 2024. A new Chair is yet to be recommended by the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry to the Prime Minister. Dr Chris Calogeras is Acting FRDC Chair and Professor Colin Buxton is Acting Deputy Chair during this period.

The current FRDC Board of Directors appointment terms end on 31 August 2024. Mr Travis Dowling has been appointed the Presiding Member of the Board Selection Committee to provide Director nominations to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.  The FRDC Careers web page will have details on how to apply once the directors positions are advertised.

FRDC News, Social Media & Events

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Upcoming Events 2024

Check out FRDC's updated events webpage for all upcoming events in one convenient location.

New projects approved from 18 December 2023

Project Number	Title	Applicant	Principal Investigator
2022-047	Developing and validating novel methods to estimate age- and size-at-maturity in South Eastern Australian fisheries	University of Melbourne	John Morrongiello
2023-063	Design of a fishery independent longline survey for chondrichthyans in Northern Australia	Fishwell Consulting Pty Ltd	Ian Knuckey
2023-089	Fisheries Management: From Science to Sustainable Practices (program development)	Brentwood Kitchens Pty Ltd trading as Jenny Cook Consulting	Jenny Cook
2022-191	Safeguarding our Sydney Rock Oyster industry against QX disease	NSW Department of Primary Industries	Cheryl Jenkins
2023-074	Capability and Capacity Building - Scientific Networking & Early Career Development (Australian Society for Fish Biology)	Australian Society for Fish Biology Inc	John Morrongiello
2023-087	Macquarie Harbour oxygenation trial	University of Tasmania	Jeff Ross
2023-011	Sea Change: co-developing pathways to mitigate and adapt to a changing climate for fisheries and aquaculture in Australia	University of Tasmania (UTAS)	Gretta Pecl
2023-067	Investigative tour to World Fisheries Congress, Boston Seafood Show and Electric and Hybrid Maritime Expo (2024)	Austral Fisheries Pty Ltd	Clayton Nelson
2023-078	Seaweed National Hatchery Network (NHN) – Tropical Research Hub for Asparagopsis taxiformis	James Cook University (JCU)	Mark Cyrus
2023-029	Mapping the economic and social contributions of the NT seafood industry – Part 2	Northern Territory Seafood Council (NTSC)	Katherine Winchester
2023-080	Alternate energy solutions for aquaculture: A Seafood Industry Australia + Blue Economy CRC Collaboration	Seafood Industry Australia (SIA)	Veronica Papacosta
2022-195	Fisheries Management Training Course Bursaries	University of Wollongong (UOW)	Alistair McIlgorm
2023-006	Assess the future needs of Australia's aquatic animal disease diagnostic system	University of Sydney (USYD)	Francisca Samsing
2023-105	2024 World Fisheries Conference bursary (Seattle, USA)	Western Australian Fishing Industry Council Inc (WAFIC)	Marshall Thompson
2022-146	Animal Welfare – what we do know and where to from here?	McPhee Research Consultants Pty Ltd	Daryl McPhee
2023-034	Land Based Fishing Platforms: a guide to understanding current technologies and the processes required to developing fishing jetties	Recfishwest	Matt Gillett
2023-058	Aboriginal Fisheries Business Development Program	NSW Department of Primary Industries	Sarah Fairfull
2023-084	Capability & Capacity: advancing education & career pathways through collaboration (inc. National Food & Fibre Education Strategy)	Primary Industries Education Foundation Australia (PIEFA)	Luciano Mesiti
2023-099	Development of a temperature monitoring framework for Tasmania's seafood industry during marine heatwaves	Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS) Hobart	Camille White
2023-106	Capability and Capacity: Innovation bursaries and conference sponsorship	Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC)	Sally Roberts
2023-112	Common Approach to GHG Accounting for Australian Agriculture framework - Build 1 (AIA Environmental Accounting Platform)	Agricultural Innovation Australia Ltd (AIA)	Sarah Castellanos
2022-093	Future-proofing Lactococcus garvieae vaccines for Australian farmed trout in a warming climate	University of Queensland (UQ)	Andrew Barnes
2023-082	Australian Fisheries and Aquaculture Statistics 2022	Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) ABARES	Robert Curtotti
2023-036	Understanding drivers of jellyfish blooms in the Hawkesbury estuary	Griffith University Gold Coast Campus	Kylie Pitt
2023-102	Capability & Capacity: 2024 Electric & Hybrid Marine Expo North America and Conference	Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC)	Clayton Nelson
2022-157	Bringing the iconic Australian Herring to the food service and retail market	Curtin University	Janet Howieson
2023-012	Reviewing solutions to reduce unwanted fisher interactions with elasmobranchs	Department of Agriculture and Fisheries EcoScience Precinct	Jonathan Mitchell
2023-070	The feasibility of a financial safety-net: Investigating financial mechanisms to protect oyster growers from disease outbreaks	NSW Farmers' Association	Andrew Myers
2023-018	Women in the Seafood Industry of the Northern Territory: Participation, Contribution and Workforce Retention (PhD)	Charles Darwin University (CDU)	Natasha Stacey
2023-095	Australian seaweed industry delegation to Korea to share learning	Australian Sustainable Seaweed Alliance	Lindsay Hermes
2023-051	Ecologically sustainable aquaculture growth through Integrated Multitrophic Aquaculture (IMTA) – Incorporating IMTA nutrient modelling into regulatory frameworks.	Flinders University	Matthew Hoare
2023-114	Queensland gillnet fishers - a story and history	Bowerman Ventures Pty Ltd	Martin Bowerman
2023-085	Snapper Science Program: Theme 1 - Biology and Ecology	Flinders University	Troy Rogers
2023-154	Inshore fishery alternative and innovative gears partnership	Department of Agriculture and Fisheries	Samuel Williams
2022-141	SIA early mover micro project - integrated wave energy microgrid design	Climate KIC Australia (for Australian Ocean Energy Group)	Stephanie Thornton

 

Final Reports received and approved since 18 December 2023

Note that some of these final reports are currently not available on our website.

Project Number	Title	Applicant	Principal Investigator
2022-113	Apollo Bay Seafood Festival 2023	Apollo Bay Chamber of Commerce	Pat Mackle
2023-016	Travel Bursary for Professional Development and Identification of Emerging Technologies	Huon Aquaculture Group Ltd	Matthew Whittle
2016-034	Golden fish: evaluating and optimising the biological, social and economic returns of small-scale fisheries	Murdoch University	James Tweedley
2022-202	ABFA IPA: Consumer market research to underpin a brand strategy to grow category demand and support premium pricing	Australian Barramundi Farmers Association (ABFA)	Jo-Anne Ruscoe
2018-025	Processing innovation to produce novel, investment ready, WA seafood products	Curtin University	Janet Howieson
2021-130	Upskilling Australian Barramundi farmers on harmful algal bloom (HAB) identification, monitoring and fish health management tools	Future Fisheries Veterinary Service Pty Ltd (FFVS)	James Fensham
2021-089	Climate resilient wild catch fisheries	Seafood Industry Australia (SIA)	Veronica Papacosta
2023-017	Joint Asia Pacific Marine Biotechnology Conference and Australia New Zealand Marine Biotechnology Society Conference 2023	Flinders University	Steven M. Clarke
2022-137	Ensuring market-focused value adding capabilities are available to SA Seafood companies today and through to 2030	Ridge Partners	Ewan A. Colquhoun
2018-031	Assessing the Risk of Pathogenic Vibrio Species in Tasmanian Oysters	University of Adelaide	Valeria Torok
2020-116	Accelerating Greenlip Abalone stock recovery in South Australia using release of hatchery-reared juveniles: Phase 1 - genetics risk assessment and preliminary cost-benefit analysis	University of Adelaide	Stephen Mayfield
2022-021	Review of approaches for determining commercial fisheries compensation	Synergies Economic Consulting	Martin van Bueren
2021-116	Recreational fishers in Tasmania: understanding experiences, behaviours, drivers, communication needs and change factors	Action Market Research	Neil Howells
2020-043	Toxigenic vibrio baselines and optimum storage, transport and shelf-life conditions to inform cold supply chains in the north Australian Tropical Rock Oyster industry	Charles Darwin University (CDU)	Karen S. Gibb