Research and Development

Research and Development

Overview

The South Australian Fisheries and Aquaculture R&D Strategy identifies three features as particularly important throughout the R&D project development process:

  1. The involvement of all stakeholders;
  2. Transparency throughout the process; and
  3. The provision of a useful plan that can be used to determine, guide and assess key R&D proposals by:
    • identifying priority R&D needs. (This will lead to the development of R&D projects that meet the needs of stakeholders);
    • offering guidance to R&D providers (the research community) on the types of R&D applications likely to gain support;
    • allowing those interested or involved in fisheries and aquaculture to discern what R&D projects are planned and how they relate to their interests and involvement;
    • indicating a balance between tactical and strategic (longer term) needs;
    • indicating plans for future contingencies; and
    • identifying potential management issues.

The early recognition of critical issues and identification of priorities, adequate and timely R&D, and rigorous and comprehensive implementation of outcomes are essential for the proper development of fisheries and aquaculture and all of our natural resources.

To focus R&D effort and manage funds in an effective manner, the following advice is considered important:

  1. Each sector of the industry needs to identify specific R&D priorities on an annual basis. These priorities should be translated into research programs that are developed jointly with the research community.
  2. The research community needs to approach industry in a proactive fashion to develop research programs (and project funding applications) of mutual interest.
  3. Account needs to be taken of other stakeholders who, whilst not directly benefiting from the natural resource, may have a legitimate interest in how the resources are harvested and how it affects the environment. It is important that this group recognises:
    • that it has an important role to play;
    • the need for it to advance R&D programs which address its concerns;
    • that it has responsibilities to the wider community in this respect and;
    • that high quality programs are best advanced with the research community.

SAFRAB urges all stakeholders to collaborate during the identification and development of R&D programs. Assessment of the merit of R&D proposals for funding is weighted heavily towards this essential requirement.

The overall objective of the process is to develop knowledge and processes to manage fisheries resources in a holistic manner.

R&D areas for fisheries and aquaculture in South Australia are itemised under four program areas.

Program 1
Strategic Priorities Support Projects that:

  • Define resources and create objective measures of the health of resources that can then be used as a benchmark against which changes in the health of the resources can be measured.
  • Define threats to resources and create objective measures of the magnitude of each threat.
  • Develop ways to manage the threats to resources.
  • Predict how changing a threat affects the health of the resource.
  • Enhance governance arrangements for more innovative, responsive and effective management of the resources.


Program 2
Strategic Priorities Support projects that:

  • Eliminate technical barriers to improved social, economic and environmental efficiency in Fisheries and Aquaculture production.
  • Evaluate the non-biological implications of regulation, including the processes of changing access arrangements.
  • Identify the best use and highest economic value for seafood production (thus maximising the return to the community on extractive production).
  • Promote the true value of fisheries and aquaculture to the community-at-large.
  • Provide healthy and nutritious food to consumers.

Program 3
Strategic Priorities Support projects that:

  • Increase communication among and between industry participants and service providers, eg seminars, field days and conferences.
  • Develop leadership and communication skills in industry participants (eg fishers and farmers) and service providers (eg scientists).
  • Enable participatory co-management of resources at the decision making level.

Program 4
Strategic Priorities Support Projects that:

  • Promote a shared vision among all fishing industry stakeholders of a soundly planned future for South Australia’s marine resources.
  • Focus the attention of R&D providers on projects that are consistent with that vision.
  • Maintain a clear, methodical and transparent system to translate R&D priorities into endorsed projects and have them funded.
  • Maintain and enhance linkages to collaborative bodies to help identify and fund important R&D programs.

 

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