Assessing The Effectiveness Of IRG R&D Projects To Deliver Change
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$147,938.00
Summary
Within each IRG project there is always an attempt to address multiple IRG Priorities, particularly a capacity building component. However, what is often missing is an understanding of what impact the project has had and how the capacity building component from each project has led to any discernible change from a participant’s perspective. The IRG through the FRDC have funded two recent projects that were both designed to lead to an up-skilling, and hopefully a call to action in addressing Ind ....Within each IRG project there is always an attempt to address multiple IRG Priorities, particularly a capacity building component. However, what is often missing is an understanding of what impact the project has had and how the capacity building component from each project has led to any discernible change from a participant’s perspective. The IRG through the FRDC have funded two recent projects that were both designed to lead to an up-skilling, and hopefully a call to action in addressing Indigenous participation in fisheries areas. This project seeks to better understand the impacts these projects have made in these areas from the perspective of the project participants. Researchers will collate the experiences of participants through semi-structured interviews and develop resources suitable to communicate outcomes to stakeholders.
Objectives: 1. To undertake a series of semi-structured interviews with participants of two previous FRDC IRG projects 2. To document and collate the experiences of participants from two FRDC IRG projects 3. To develop resources suitable to communicate findings of this project to stakeholders 4. To provide professional capacity building for Indigenous student in project management and research Read moreRead less
Indigenous Branding In The Fishing And Seafood Industry - Economic Creation And Capture
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$100,000.00
Summary
Modern fishery regulations are creating new opportunities for Indigenous people to participate in the whole seafood chain. (see the recent corporate examples noted in the Background Section).
Indigenous people are increasingly the owners of commercial fishing licenses, and the operators of fishery businesses. But in wholesale markets their harvests will have to compete on price per kilogram with every other fishers' product. If they lack business scale or are not productive and comme ....Modern fishery regulations are creating new opportunities for Indigenous people to participate in the whole seafood chain. (see the recent corporate examples noted in the Background Section).
Indigenous people are increasingly the owners of commercial fishing licenses, and the operators of fishery businesses. But in wholesale markets their harvests will have to compete on price per kilogram with every other fishers' product. If they lack business scale or are not productive and commercially agile, their commercial business will not survive.
One option is for Indigenous fishers to offer seafood attributes that are unique and attractive to consumers. If products are differentiated and also branded in unique ways, some end-consumers may value these attributes and be willing to pay higher prices, which flow back to the fisher/owner of the brand. This is the same economic pathway that every other commercial fishing and seafood business pursues.
But does this logic apply to emerging Australian Indigenous brand fisheries? That is the question this project seeks to address. Is there substantive global and local evidence supporting the development of specific commercial Indigenous food brands in any seafood/food market? And if there are commercial branding benefits, can Indigenous fishers/producers actually capture the benefits of the investment they make in such branding, or are they dissipated along the supply chain?
This analysis should be undertaken before further FRDC and other agency or authority funds are committed to R&D or other funding that supports the development of Indigenous seafood brands.
IRG Members considered how best to approach the challenge. Members supported that the Priority 2 (Benefits of an Indigenous brand) should be funded as a project immediately. They agreed a technical analysis of the economic benefit of such a brand should be undertaken via a desktop international audit to capture information on successes and failures using such brands, understanding the whys, the costs, governance involved and if successful where is the benefit captured (at the supplier, middle person or the end point.
Objectives: 1. Identify and engage with Indigenous enterprises that manage seafood brands 2. Draw conclusions re economic impacts of Indigenous food/seafood brands 3. Document and report the economic impacts on and potential for Australian Indigenous food/seafood brands. 4. Document which stages of the supply chain accrue the economic benefit from any branding Read moreRead less
External Review Of The FRDC's Indigenous Fishing And Aquaculture Coordination Program
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$46,000.00
Summary
The objective of this project is to undertake an independent review of the IRG’s operations and impacts to date in accordance with the below-described Terms of Reference and report on that review. Terms of Reference The specific terms of reference for this independent review are: 1. Undertake an assessment of the impact of the IRG against its current scope, and provide recommendations on how to improve adoption and impact for Indigenous fishing and aquaculture and cultural fishing RD ....The objective of this project is to undertake an independent review of the IRG’s operations and impacts to date in accordance with the below-described Terms of Reference and report on that review. Terms of Reference The specific terms of reference for this independent review are: 1. Undertake an assessment of the impact of the IRG against its current scope, and provide recommendations on how to improve adoption and impact for Indigenous fishing and aquaculture and cultural fishing RD&E; and 2. Provide recommendations on the future governance structure, function and membership of a revised IRG body to deliver RD&E priorities to the FRDC that improve opportunities for Indigenous Australians in fishing and aquaculture and cultural fishing. For the purposes of clarity, it is understood that the scope of the review pertains only to: ▪ The IRG’s current purpose (i.e. to provide advice to the FRDC) and is not intended to consider the question of a peak body for the Australian First Nations fishing and aquaculture industry; and ▪ First Nations commercial fishing and aquaculture and is only relevant to customary fishing where there might be a natural intersection (such as the nature of fishing rights, use of Traditional Ecological Knowledge in fishing practices and management and use of cultural branding for commercial product) and it does not include First Nations participation in recreational fishing Objectives: 1. The objective of this project is to undertake an independent review of the IRG’s operations and impacts to date in accordance with the below-described Terms of Reference and report on that review. Read moreRead less
Presently, there appears to be no existing program that is suitable for Indigenous participants to gain a basic understanding of fisheries management processes and governance structures, and an introduction to leadership skills. There is also no program that provides fisheries managers and researchers with experience in understanding indigenous fishing and culture. This two-way gap is considered to be a barrier to increasing participation of Indigenous Australians in participating in a range o ....Presently, there appears to be no existing program that is suitable for Indigenous participants to gain a basic understanding of fisheries management processes and governance structures, and an introduction to leadership skills. There is also no program that provides fisheries managers and researchers with experience in understanding indigenous fishing and culture. This two-way gap is considered to be a barrier to increasing participation of Indigenous Australians in participating in a range of fisheries management, policy and research and development processes. Recognising this, the FRDC issues a call for expressions of interest to address this gap on 3 May 2007.
Objectives: 1. Develop a national, culturally appropriate capacity building program for involvement of Indigenous Australians in fisheries management. 2. Build capacity of 20 Indigenous Australians to participate in a range of fisheries management, policy and research and development processes by increasing their knowledge, skills and experience of fisheries research concepts and practices, current approaches to fisheries management and policy, fishery governance structures, understanding of, and capacity to participate in relevant committees and workshops and providing an introduction to leadership and building leadership knowledge. 3. Increase the understanding of managers, researchers and MAC and RAG members of potential contributions of Indigenous Australians and cultural aspects of their own engagement processes. 4. Foster an ongoing legacy of the project to enable capacity building to be undertaken regularly as required. Read moreRead less
Maintaining Cultural Practices And Building Knowledge And Capacity To Support Sustainable Fishing Of The Gynburra On Narungga Sea Country
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$95,875.00
Summary
The Narungga people of Yorke Peninsula developed the historic 10-year Buthera Agreement that was signed with the SA Government in 2018. This agreement aims to provide capacity- building support for the Narungga Nation Aboriginal Corporation to drive development, economic enterprise and collaborative engagement with government agencies on Guuranda. Initiatives in the Agreement include projects relating to health, education and cultural studies, in partnership between government and the Narungga p ....The Narungga people of Yorke Peninsula developed the historic 10-year Buthera Agreement that was signed with the SA Government in 2018. This agreement aims to provide capacity- building support for the Narungga Nation Aboriginal Corporation to drive development, economic enterprise and collaborative engagement with government agencies on Guuranda. Initiatives in the Agreement include projects relating to health, education and cultural studies, in partnership between government and the Narungga people. There is very little known about Gynburra (Butterfish; Strongfish) from scientific, biological and environmental view-points. We the Narungga people would like to know about the fishery biology and ecology of this culturally significant species to understand the whole life cycle of this culturally significant beautiful, elegant and powerful fish. This will ensure we are able to pass down traditional and scientific knowledge to our younger generations to ensure Gynburra’s sustainability into the future, and highlight the important cultural and social value of the species. We also have a significant need to develop the skills to allow our people their equal right to develop skills, capabilities and capacities in the areas of fishery science and stewardship in ways that link directly to our Sea Country and inline with the cultural values underpinned by the Buthera Agreement with the South Australian Government.
Objectives: 1. Building knowledge and capacity in fisheries science and ecology techniques to support sustainable fishing of the Gynburra on Narungga Sea Country 2. Use the fisheries ecological information on the Gynburra to enhance and build self management practices, demonstrate and strengthen our cultural ownership by extending the findings to the broader community. Read moreRead less
Indigenous Fishing Subprogram: Facilitation Of The Third FRDC National Indigenous Fisheries RD&E Stakeholders Forum
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$80,200.00
Summary
Less than 2% of State fisheries agency RD&E capacity is focused towards indigenous needs. Only the NT has an operational group focusing on indigenous fishing and aquaculture.
Indigenous input and project assessment by FRDC is limited due to the complexities and costs of engaging effectively with indigenous Australians on fishing and seafood related RD&E.
The FRDC’s IRG members do their best to provide grassroots advice and input at its regular meetings but this has its limi ....Less than 2% of State fisheries agency RD&E capacity is focused towards indigenous needs. Only the NT has an operational group focusing on indigenous fishing and aquaculture.
Indigenous input and project assessment by FRDC is limited due to the complexities and costs of engaging effectively with indigenous Australians on fishing and seafood related RD&E.
The FRDC’s IRG members do their best to provide grassroots advice and input at its regular meetings but this has its limitations due to the large geographic and often remote location of its end users. While the IRG is made of experienced members, they all undertake their role on the IRG as volunteers and maintain fulltime employment. Due to the small number of members the IRG need confidence around the type of advice that it can provide towards a national approach.
The IRG has identified that a semi-regular systematic and inclusive forum/workshop is required to ground truth its relevance and guide its RD&E investment is vital to allow it to maintain and develop endorsed identifiable Indigenous sector input to the research priorities and strategies.
It is therefore proposed to undertake a third FRDC National Indigenous Fisheries RD&E Forum which will also allow the expansion of the group’s capacity by broadening its network through the inclusion of additional people who provide expertise and links to improve FRDC’s strategic investment in indigenous focused RD&E and providing an environment conducive to building trust and securing genuine and well-considered input.
This forum will provide advice and assistance to help address the above needs of the FRDC, and to assist the Forum to enhance engagement and enhance RD&E needs for the indigenous commercial and customary sectors. Objectives: 1. - Undertake a third FRDC National Indigenous Fisheries RD&E Forum to provide formal advice to the participants on a range of matters as outlined in the methods section. 2. - Seek advice from a wide range (industry experience and geographical locations) of Indigenous expertise and links to assist to improving FRDC’s strategic investment in indigenous focused RD&E. 3. - Report to the FRDC Board to further develop its investment in RD&E that has a significant benefit to Indigenous Australians. 4. - Enhance the current extension process to the broader indigenous community, Commonwealth and State Departments and key national research programs (e.g National Environmental Science Program, Caring for Country and Reef 2050 Strategic Investment Program) through the links and networks developed at the meeting. Read moreRead less
Informing Rick Assessment Through Estimating Interaction Rates Between Australia Sea Lions And Western Australia's Temperate Demersal Gillnet Fisheries
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$50,000.00
Summary
Australia’s only endemic pinniped, the Australian sea lion (ASL) Neophoca cinerea, is one of the rarest sea lions (~ 14,700) worldwide and listed as “threatened” under Australian Commonwealth legislation and as “Specially Protected Fauna” under the WA Wildlife Conservation Act.
There is considerable concern among some researchers and community sectors that incidental bycatch of ASLs by commercial gillnetting may be preventing the recovery of ASL populations from their current depleted ....Australia’s only endemic pinniped, the Australian sea lion (ASL) Neophoca cinerea, is one of the rarest sea lions (~ 14,700) worldwide and listed as “threatened” under Australian Commonwealth legislation and as “Specially Protected Fauna” under the WA Wildlife Conservation Act.
There is considerable concern among some researchers and community sectors that incidental bycatch of ASLs by commercial gillnetting may be preventing the recovery of ASL populations from their current depleted states. Goldsworthy et al (2010) recently estimated that several hundred ASLs die annually in SA due to gillnetting, indicating that there is an urgent need to explore the extent to which ASLs in WA are affected by commercial gillnetting.
WA temperate gillnet fisheries will soon commence Marine Stewardship pre-assessment and their members are acutely aware of the urgent need for research on ASL/gillnet interactions in WA, without which, they cannot achieve certification and are vulnerable to the Commonwealth’s Marine Park planning process (if that process is not based on sound information).
As the distribution of ASL colonies, foraging areas of ASL individuals, and of gillnet fishing in WA are very different from SA, the results of the SA study cannot be applied directly to the WA situation.
Goldsworthy et al. (2009) based their analyses on distance from colonies and depth, but possibly because of limited tagging and/or observer data, did not consider the direction of ASL foraging trips from breeding colonies and haul out points and may have thus overestimated ASL mortality rates due to commercial gillnetting. The accuracy of estimates of ASL/gillnet interactions has major implications for both the conservation of ASL populations and for the viability of important fisheries. Developing improved methods of analysis, e.g. the agent-based modelling approach proposed here, and comparison of results with those from existing approaches are key to facilitating sound risk assessments. Objectives: 1. Develop a tool to assist in determining the implications of the current distribution of commercial gillnet fishing for different colonies of Australian sea lions 2. Estimate the proportion of Australian sea lions, in different colonies, that encounter commercial gillnets in Western Australian waters each year Read moreRead less
People Development Program: FRDC Indigenous Development Scholarship - Angela Jeffery
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$10,000.00
Summary
Objectives: 1. Develop a better understanding (self and community) of Aboriginal fishing practices - past and new - through development of educational materials