Meeting Sustainability Expectations: Translating And Aligning Objectives, Reporting And Evaluation Of The Performance Of Australian Fisheries
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$164,674.50
Summary
The Australian fishing industry is under increasing scrutiny due to campaigns that communicate that stocks are overfished and poorly managed (AMCS 2011). This contributes to calls for MPAs, resistance to consumption of some seafood, and a general erosion of community support for fishing industries (Hilborn & Kearny 2012). FRDC is addressing these issues through a suite of initiatives, including the SAFS and NHSP projects. The project proposed here examines the consistency and transparency of fis ....The Australian fishing industry is under increasing scrutiny due to campaigns that communicate that stocks are overfished and poorly managed (AMCS 2011). This contributes to calls for MPAs, resistance to consumption of some seafood, and a general erosion of community support for fishing industries (Hilborn & Kearny 2012). FRDC is addressing these issues through a suite of initiatives, including the SAFS and NHSP projects. The project proposed here examines the consistency and transparency of fisheries governance. The need is to ensure that the Australian community’s expectations for the management of its fisheries are adequately reflected and accounted for throughout governance processes, from the objectives of legislation through to reporting and evaluating performance and status of fisheries.
This project was developed to directly address the following needs as identified in the National R,D&E Strategy 2010: - provide greater clarity in management objectives, - develop governance models for better accountability; and - develop performance indicators, including social, ecological and economic.
The project will also contribute to the following priority areas: - integrating social, environmental and economic considerations into fisheries management strategies; and - identifying and understanding community aquatic values and how these can be integrated into fisheries management .
This project will meet these needs by generating knowledge about ways to improve the design of: 1. legislative objectives for fisheries resources and management objectives for specific fisheries, and thereby achieve greater alignment with the Australian community’s expectations for management of fisheries resources; and 2. management objectives for specific fisheries so they can be operationalized to achieve greater articulation with reporting and evaluation of performance and status. In addition, the project will contribute to the development of common reporting frameworks and formal classifications for social, economic, ecological and management performance and status of key Australian fisheries.
Objectives: 1. Determine the extent of alignment between the Australian public's expectations for the performance of fisheries and legislative objectives for fisheries resources in each of the jurisdictions 2. Determine the extent of alignment between legislative objectives for fisheries resources between Australian jurisdictions 3. Determine the extent of alignment between management objectives and reporting frameworks for each of Australia's key fisheries 4. Determine the level of articulation between management objectives and reporting for each of Australia's key fisheries 5. Identify options and provide recommendations for common reporting frameworks and formal classifications for social, economic, ecological and management performance and status of Australia's key fisheries 6. Develop guidelines and identify instruments and processes for the optimal design of fisheries legislative objectives and management objectives for specific fisheries. Read moreRead less
Learned Academies Special Projects - Grant ID: LA170100022
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$118,098.00
Summary
Nourishing Australia: a decadal plan for nutrition science. This project aims to develop a plan to address the complex health and environmental challenges associated with changes in food production and consumption. Since the industrial revolution, our understanding of human diet has lagged behind the rate of change. This project aims to better integrate knowledge across nutrients, foods, meals, diets, and dietary patterns to understand balance rather than single nutrients or commodities. It will ....Nourishing Australia: a decadal plan for nutrition science. This project aims to develop a plan to address the complex health and environmental challenges associated with changes in food production and consumption. Since the industrial revolution, our understanding of human diet has lagged behind the rate of change. This project aims to better integrate knowledge across nutrients, foods, meals, diets, and dietary patterns to understand balance rather than single nutrients or commodities. It will examine the broader context of nutrition from individuals to communities to nations, and globally, and develop a consistent theoretical framework for nutrition that includes both individual biology and the physical, social and biological environment. This will provide broad benefits for social, cultural, economic and health outcomes in the region.Read moreRead less
Childhood poverty in Indonesia. This project aims to offer solutions to childhood poverty in Indonesia, where over half the child population live on less than $2 per day. More effective responses to childhood poverty, one of the greatest challenges facing the world, are needed. This project will extend theories of multidimensional poverty to children, reflecting their experience and priorities; analyse similarities and differences between child- and adult-centred conceptualisations of childhood ....Childhood poverty in Indonesia. This project aims to offer solutions to childhood poverty in Indonesia, where over half the child population live on less than $2 per day. More effective responses to childhood poverty, one of the greatest challenges facing the world, are needed. This project will extend theories of multidimensional poverty to children, reflecting their experience and priorities; analyse similarities and differences between child- and adult-centred conceptualisations of childhood poverty; and develop a replicable child-centred methodology for assessing childhood poverty. The project expects to produce policy-relevant findings that move beyond adult-centric definitions and contribute to more effective responses to child poverty.Read moreRead less
Comparative Evaluation Of Integrated Coastal Marine Management In Australia - Workshop
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$14,640.00
Summary
There is widespread evidence, in Australia and internationally, of increased need for an improved, practical approach to integrated management (IM) of fisheries and other coastal marine activities that is able to fully embrace the social, economic and institutional aspects (the so-called ‘human dimensions), of management. Assessment and management systems traditionally neglect the human dimensions. Further, they treat sectors separately, often with different authorities managing diverse activit ....There is widespread evidence, in Australia and internationally, of increased need for an improved, practical approach to integrated management (IM) of fisheries and other coastal marine activities that is able to fully embrace the social, economic and institutional aspects (the so-called ‘human dimensions), of management. Assessment and management systems traditionally neglect the human dimensions. Further, they treat sectors separately, often with different authorities managing diverse activities in different ways, resulting in inconsistencies in management across activities. The result is that there is almost no consideration of the cumulative social, economic or ecological impacts of multiple activities, and no way of informing trade-offs among activities in management decision-making. Experience to date is that IM has been only partially successful. Management of multiple activities has been additive…squeezing one activity in among others (e.g aquaculture in light of others). While there are some examples of movement toward IM, these have resulted in partial or temporary success. There are examples where management has started toward IM, but progress has been stalled or has fallen back. In general, many preconditions exist, but it has been hypothesized that management is missing key aspects of intentional design that would allow IM to proceed. The proposed workshop will bring together those with both the science knowledge and the operational knowledge of 8-10 Australian IM case studies and a few with international expertise, to evaluate and compare experience towards identifying key elements of success and failure of Integrated Management.
Objectives: 1. Complete the creation of a lens for evaluation of Integrated Management that includes appropriate attention to social, cultural, economic, institutional as well as ecological aspects 2. Convene two workshops involving expert practitioners with sufficient scientific and operational knowledge of existing Australian Integrated Management case studies 3. Evaluate and compare experience on implementing IM in Australia using a single evaluative lens 4. Synthesize and report results of the evaluation and make recommendations for improved IM in Australia Read moreRead less
Integrating Indigenous Fishing: Extending Adoption Pathways To Policy And Management
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$33,000.00
Summary
THE NEED
The FRDC IRG has invested in a number of research projects to advance Indigenous rights, interests, opportunities and engagement in Australia's fisheries. However, fisheries management agencies across the jurisdictions appear to have struggled to engage with or make effective use of these outputs and to make progress with Indigenous fishing interests.
IRG is seeking to commission a project to assist in dealing with this issue. The project is intended to establish effe ....THE NEED
The FRDC IRG has invested in a number of research projects to advance Indigenous rights, interests, opportunities and engagement in Australia's fisheries. However, fisheries management agencies across the jurisdictions appear to have struggled to engage with or make effective use of these outputs and to make progress with Indigenous fishing interests.
IRG is seeking to commission a project to assist in dealing with this issue. The project is intended to establish effective means for Indigenous fishing R&D outputs to deliver policy and management outcomes. To do this, the project will engage with agencies to understand: their information needs; current progress, impediments and opportunities in integrating Indigenous fishing R&D outputs into their policies and management; and develop a template that can be used by all future PIs to frame IRG research outputs in a form useful to agencies.
There is also an identified need to build Indigenous leadership capacity to shape fisheries policy and management at the highest level. This project involves an Indigenous collaborator and a focus on their development through participation and professional executive coaching. The Indigenous collaborator, will also bring cultural advice and insight to the project.
In terms of IRG priorities, this project has the potential to contribute to:
Establishing the primacy of first nations in the fisheries areas Acknowledgement of Indigenous Cultural Practices Self-determination of Indigenous rights to use and manage cultural assets and resources Economic development opportunities arising from Indigenous peoples cultural assets and associated rights Capacity building opportunities for Indigenous people are enhanced.
MEASURING SUCCESS
Success for the project can be measured by:
Development through participation of an Indigenous collaborator and increased cultural awareness in wider participants Usefulness of a report identifying agency priorities, opportunities and impediments to incorporating Indigenous R&D outputs in policy and management Indigenous R&D outputs being more readily adopted in policy and management Usefulness of a template to ensure ongoing adoption and engagement of IRG outputs Objectives: 1. Document the impediments and opportunities for Indigenous engagement and adoption of IRG project outputs across fisheries management jurisdictions in Australia. 2. Identify the priorities for Indigenous fishing in jurisdictions with a focus on the 5 IRG RD&E priorities. 3. Develop a report synthesizing the impediments, opportunities and priorities for Indigenous fishing engagement and adoption to guide future IRG investment. 4. Develop a template for future IRG projects that will ensure engagement and adoption are maximized. 5. Provide professional development and capacity building for an Indigenous collaborator and grow cultural awareness in wider participants. Read moreRead less
Recreational Fishing And Human Wellbeing: Insights From Existing Data And Development Of Best Practice Approaches To Future Measurement
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$46,000.00
Summary
This project is needed as there are knowledge gaps about the effect of recreational fishing on the health and wellbeing of recreational fishers. Recent years have seen many claims about the health and wellbeing benefits of recreational fishing, as well as growing interest in nature connection and outdoor recreation as wellbeing interventions more generally. Measuring and valuing the wellbeing benefits of recreational fishing is not currently possible due to a lack of evidence, and limited method ....This project is needed as there are knowledge gaps about the effect of recreational fishing on the health and wellbeing of recreational fishers. Recent years have seen many claims about the health and wellbeing benefits of recreational fishing, as well as growing interest in nature connection and outdoor recreation as wellbeing interventions more generally. Measuring and valuing the wellbeing benefits of recreational fishing is not currently possible due to a lack of evidence, and limited methods for monitoring, measuring and reporting wellbeing effects. The FRDC’s RD&E Plan 2015-20 aims by 2020 to have robust community net benefit metrics that enable measurement of the benefits of fishing. This project will develop robust metrics related to health and wellbeing benefits of recreational fishing. Achieving this requires better understanding both (i) whether and under what circumstances engaging in recreational fishing has measurable impacts on health and wellbeing, and (ii) how to measure these benefits to produce readily accessible and understandable metrics. This will help achieve the FRDC’s national research strategy deliverable ‘Social contribution is supported by the fishing and aquaculture sector so it can capture the non-monetary value of activities across sectors.’ This work will also contribute to national science and research priorities in the health field, specifically the priority ‘Build healthy and resilient communities throughout Australia by developing … preventative strategies to improve physical and mental well-being’ (http://www.science.gov.au/scienceGov/ScienceAndResearchPriorities/Pages/Health.aspx). Nationally, this research priority aims to develop strategies for supporting wellbeing. This project contributes by identifying the role recreational fishing can play in building healthy and resilient communities through supporting physical and mental wellbeing. This research will also contribute to the overarching aims of Australia’s rural research, development and extension strategy, which include ‘develop a range of technologies and knowledge to contribute to healthy Australian lifestyles’ (http://www.agriculture.gov.au/SiteCollectionDocuments/ag-food/innovation2/nsrrdip-investment-plan1.pdf) Objectives: 1. Understand whether engaging in recreational fishing (or in particular types or frequency of fishing) is associated with improved health and wellbeing for individual recreational fishers using available datasets 2. Identify best practice methods for establishing a causal relationship between (i) engaging in fishing and (ii) health and wellbeing outcomes for individual recreational fishers 3. Produce proposed set of measures and associated methodology that can be used to robustly measure causal association between engaging in fishing and health & wellbeing for individual recreational fishers and that can be used to provide valuation of these benefits for the broader economy Read moreRead less
Developing the capacity to model the impact of interventions that target high-risk drinking among young Australians. Alcohol use is a major contributing factor to social and health problems among young Australians. The project will inform the development of effective policy by providing multidisciplinary research evidence and the capacity to model how various interventions impact on the prevalence of alcohol-related problems.
Strategic assessment of research performance indicators. The use of quantitative measures of research performance in higher education sends powerful messages to those being evaluated, because the choice of measures signals what is considered most important. However, little critical assessment has been undertaken on the use of performance indicators or their impact on research practice. This project will create a knowledge base on performance measures - their validity, fairness, transparency and ....Strategic assessment of research performance indicators. The use of quantitative measures of research performance in higher education sends powerful messages to those being evaluated, because the choice of measures signals what is considered most important. However, little critical assessment has been undertaken on the use of performance indicators or their impact on research practice. This project will create a knowledge base on performance measures - their validity, fairness, transparency and impact on research, and the cost of implementation. By assessing an extensive range of measures, it will provide Australian science management and science policy makers with rigorous information on which to base informed judgements on their utilisation.Read moreRead less
Ethnographies of housing: exploring the role of housing officers in public housing service provision. This research examines the everyday practice of public housing officers working in the Victorian Office of Housing. It aims to analyse the ways that workers exercise discretion, and the patterns of meanings that they construct, through their interactions with clients, departmental managers and other human service providers. It is the first ethnographic study of front-line work in housing servi ....Ethnographies of housing: exploring the role of housing officers in public housing service provision. This research examines the everyday practice of public housing officers working in the Victorian Office of Housing. It aims to analyse the ways that workers exercise discretion, and the patterns of meanings that they construct, through their interactions with clients, departmental managers and other human service providers. It is the first ethnographic study of front-line work in housing services in Australia and builds on comparable work done in the United Kingdom and America. The knowledge generated will inform innovation in public housing services, housing policy debates and emerging programs designed to integrate housing with other human services.Read moreRead less
Co-operative intellectual property management and technology transfer for the Australian biotechnology industry. The Australian biotechnology industry rests on a framework of internationally competitive research and should be well placed to capture a significant share of expanding global markets. However, existing intellectual property (IP) management strategies do not make the most of this potential because they raise barriers to much-needed co-operation among industry players. By developing an ....Co-operative intellectual property management and technology transfer for the Australian biotechnology industry. The Australian biotechnology industry rests on a framework of internationally competitive research and should be well placed to capture a significant share of expanding global markets. However, existing intellectual property (IP) management strategies do not make the most of this potential because they raise barriers to much-needed co-operation among industry players. By developing and refining new co-operative IP management models in an Australian context, this project offers direct economic benefits (more efficient industry structures), improved social and economic benefits (better and cheaper biotechnology products and services), and an opportunity for Australia to take the lead in developing innovative approaches to IP management.Read moreRead less