Review Of Domestic Commercial Vessel Safety Legislation
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$36,500.00
Summary
This industry consultation needs to be collated to assist the Australian seafood industry provide a nationally co-ordinated and well-informed response to a review of AMSA legislation.
There is a need for a nationally co-ordinated and well-informed seafood industry response to a review of the AMSA legislation. SIA has engaged with industry nationally and the need to respond in a collective submission that is reflective of the views of Australia’s seafood industry
In addition, ....This industry consultation needs to be collated to assist the Australian seafood industry provide a nationally co-ordinated and well-informed response to a review of AMSA legislation.
There is a need for a nationally co-ordinated and well-informed seafood industry response to a review of the AMSA legislation. SIA has engaged with industry nationally and the need to respond in a collective submission that is reflective of the views of Australia’s seafood industry
In addition, there is a need for subsequent interpretation of the outputs from the AMSA legislation review to aid industry in understanding the implications of the findings. This industry consultation needs to be collated to assist the Australian seafood industry provide a nationally co-ordinated and well-informed response to a review of AMSA legislation.
Objectives: 1. Engage a range of seafood industry representatives (individuals and organisations) in provision of input to a consolidated SIA response to the AMSA Legislation Review 2. Understand and report on industry issues associated with the application and content of the AMSA legislation 3. Provide advice to SIA to inform a national response to the AMSA legislation review Read moreRead less
Australian Aquaculture - Practical Solutions To The Triple Bottom Line - A National Workshop
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$63,910.00
Summary
Federal and state legislation is increasingly demanding more stringent environmental controls on aquaculture activities and place the onus of proof for demonstrating environmental performance on the industry. In addition, regulation for and approval of aquaculture activities is increasingly directed through state EPAs. There is thus a regulatory imperative to defining the ESD sustainability indicators for the aquaculture industry.
Public perception of the industry as environmentally u ....Federal and state legislation is increasingly demanding more stringent environmental controls on aquaculture activities and place the onus of proof for demonstrating environmental performance on the industry. In addition, regulation for and approval of aquaculture activities is increasingly directed through state EPAs. There is thus a regulatory imperative to defining the ESD sustainability indicators for the aquaculture industry.
Public perception of the industry as environmentally unsustainable is often not substantiated by scientific fact, but can have a detrimental affect on aquaculture development through objections to individual aquaculture planning applications. A negative public perception can also enhance the influence of uninformed pressure groups on Government policy development. This is a constraint to future development of the whole industry.
To address these two issues, there is a clear need to identify the issues related to various aquaculture sectors and develop protocols and frameworks through which organisations can demonstrate their compliance with environmental objectives. What is required is a national framework and standards for assessing the environmental performance of aquaculture. Additionally, industry needs to be equipped with practical tools and solutions for dealing with these issues.
The Standing Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture (SCFA) adopted an ESD framework for fisheries in 1998 and a FRDC/SCFA-funded project has undertaken a number of case studies using this framework. To date the focus of SCFA framework case studies has been on wild fisheries. This approach needs to be expanded to a broader range of stakeholders involved in aquaculture and fine-tuned to ensure it is appropriate for all aquaculture systems and sectors.
In addition, internationally benchmarked environmental management systems (such as ISO 14000) are options that should be explored to implement ESD frameworks and have already been developed for aquaculture sectors in other parts of the world (Gavine et al 1996, Boyd, 1999).
Advantages for the aquaculture industry in adopting the principles of ESD and documenting environmental performance include:
(1) Improved public perception of the industry; (2) Reduction in waste and improved efficiency at site level; (3) A competitive advantage in the market place if accreditation is used as a branding tool; and (4) Ability to effectively engage new Government policies (such as Tradeable Emissions Policies).
This workshop will be the first step in bringing together the stakeholders to identify issues and develop practical solutions that will allow the Australian aquaculture industry to continue to develop in a sustainable manner.
Boyd, C. 1999. The aquaculture industry must learn to deal effectively with environmental issues, beginning with recognising the role of the different players involved. World Aquaculture 30 (2):10. Gavine, F. M., Rennis, D. S. and Windmill, D. 1996. Implementing environmental management systems in the UK finfish aquaculture industry. J.C.I.W.E.M 10, October: 341-347. Objectives: 1. To identify practical solutions to ESD issues which will enable aquaculture organisations to develop in a sustainable and cost effective manner. 2. To develop an action plan that achieves a) standard auditing and reporting protocols for environmental performance of aquaculture operations within and ESD framework and b) adapts the existing SCFA ESD framework to incorporate the requirements of aquaculture operations. Read moreRead less
Assisting Commercial And Recreational Organisations Adapt To National Maritime Safety Standards
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$79,460.00
Summary
The Marine Safety (Domestic Commercial Vessel) National Law Act 2012 defines general safety obligations on both the Owner and Master. The Owner has a general safety obligation to implement and maintain a safety management system that ensures that the vessel and the operations of the vessel are, so far as reasonably practicable, safe. The Master also has a general safety obligation aboard the vessel to, so far as reasonably practicable, implement and comply with the safety management system for t ....The Marine Safety (Domestic Commercial Vessel) National Law Act 2012 defines general safety obligations on both the Owner and Master. The Owner has a general safety obligation to implement and maintain a safety management system that ensures that the vessel and the operations of the vessel are, so far as reasonably practicable, safe. The Master also has a general safety obligation aboard the vessel to, so far as reasonably practicable, implement and comply with the safety management system for the vessel and the operations of the vessel. http://www.amsa.gov.au/domestic/vessels-operations-surveys/certificates-of-operation/
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) is rolling out a program of risk management and SMS workshops to help industry meet the National Standard for Commercial Vessels, Part E Operations. A number of other organisation are also delivering SMS training to meet Part E. FRDC recognises that some industry sectors face particular challenges in accessing these programs, possibly due to location, timing, English language proficiency, or sector specific operations. These specific needs may be beyond the scope of these other programs. This funding will complement those programs by addressing these challenges.
The Australian Government’s Policy for a More Competitive and Sustainable Fisheries Sector (2013) included a commitment to assist commercial and recreational organisations adapt to National Maritime Safety Standards. Funding is provided by the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation on behalf of the Australian Government to deliver on this commitment.
Objectives: 1. Manage funding to help industry meet the National Standard for Commercial Vessels, Part E Operations Read moreRead less
A Case Study Into The Development Of OH&S Processes In The Pinctada Maxima Pearling Industry To Benchmark Worlds Best Industry Diving Practice
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$71,656.00
Summary
At various periods, the lack of detailed information on the development and application of the pearl industry dive protocols has resulted in criticism of the industry's occupation health and safety performance from Coroners, Unions, Government, Statutory Organisations and other parties.
The review of OH&S processes and finalisation of the drift dive research will present a cogent, defensive argument of the Industry's safe diving practices. This will place Industry in a better position ....At various periods, the lack of detailed information on the development and application of the pearl industry dive protocols has resulted in criticism of the industry's occupation health and safety performance from Coroners, Unions, Government, Statutory Organisations and other parties.
The review of OH&S processes and finalisation of the drift dive research will present a cogent, defensive argument of the Industry's safe diving practices. This will place Industry in a better position to negate the need for future legislative or Industrial Relations initiatives by responsible departments and bodies because they will be better informed regarding pearling industry occupational health & safety standards.
The diving systems and protocols developed by the pearling industry would be applicable to similar diving industries. Without a review and documentation of the process by which they were developed and the results, it could limit those industries ability to adopt and develop their own appropriate economic and efficient systems of safe diving.
This review will also constitute an element of the required documentation for Worksafe WA to consider, examine and gazette a Pearling Industry Code of Practice. This Review will also contribute to the consistency of OH&S across WA fisheries.
There is a crucial need for an objective, factual measure of the safety being achieved by the pearling industry. The drift dive database was the tool used for this measurment, however it has become dysfunctional and requires upgrading to supply this measure. (This component of the proposed review comes under the State IDU Programme 5 - 'Information Systems' and Strategy 5.2 - ' Maintain a database of relevant information, and access to similar databases.'
It will also be a benchmark document by which further studies and research on divers health can refer to and build from. Objectives: 1. Write a brief history of the pearling industry focusing on the reasons and 'drivers' for the development of the OH&S processes and programs within the industry. 2. Compile, from all previous reports to FRDC & Fisheries, the Final Research Report on the drift diving profile research and summarise in the review report the results and principles applied to establish their safety. This Final Report is for the FRDC project 'IMPROVED HARVESTING EFFICIENCY OF PEARL OYSTERS THROUGH MODIFICATION OF DIVE PROFILES' (94/098) 3. Document the development process and implimentation of the PPA Diving Code of Practice that was developed in conjuction with Fisheries WA and Worksafe WA. 4. Update the PPA drift dive database and draft a statistical report from the dive data base, which will have logged the total manhours of drift diving over the past 10 years and correlate the reduction in decompression illness (DCI) incidents to the adoption of the research results. 5. Collect and summarise the international presentation papers of pearling industry systems by Dr. R. Wong. Briefly describe the fishing industries worldwide that have adopted the principles that underpin the pearl diving system as conveyed by Dr. Wong at international hyperbaric medical conferences. 6. Document the work done by the PPA in support of hyperbaric medicine including the provision, training and support of the recompression chamber facilities in Broome. 7. In support of the above objectives, to collect all source documents regarding OH&S in the pearl diving industry since the inception of the PPA (1989). (Dive mortalities, Incidents, Coroners reports, CoP development, Chamber Purchase, International Conference papers etc.) Read moreRead less
Quality And Safety Assurance In Marine Finfish Products - A Pilot Study
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$78,690.00
Summary
Objectives: 1. To identify key reservoir sites for L monocytogenes at processing plants and determine environmental and other factors which are likely to permit multiplication of these organisms on the fish and/or in the processing plant 2. To assess the efficiency of currently recommended hygiene and decontamination procedures 3. To determine prevalences of the parasite in fish of different ages and kept in different geographic sites 4. To correlate any observed variations ....Objectives: 1. To identify key reservoir sites for L monocytogenes at processing plants and determine environmental and other factors which are likely to permit multiplication of these organisms on the fish and/or in the processing plant 2. To assess the efficiency of currently recommended hygiene and decontamination procedures 3. To determine prevalences of the parasite in fish of different ages and kept in different geographic sites 4. To correlate any observed variations in prevalence with factors such as age of fish, presence of possible intermediate hosts in the environment, etc Read moreRead less
SeSAFE - Delivering Industry Safety Through Electronic Learning
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$692,000.00
Summary
The fishing industry ranks amongst the highest risk industries in Australia for safety, yet there are considerable barriers to basic safety training, including:
• Cost – operators cannot afford it • Time – Courses are infrequent throughout the year. This does not meet the operational needs of the industry, where workers may be required at short notice. • Location – Courses are usually delivered in major cities. This makes access to the training difficult for many workers .... The fishing industry ranks amongst the highest risk industries in Australia for safety, yet there are considerable barriers to basic safety training, including:
• Cost – operators cannot afford it • Time – Courses are infrequent throughout the year. This does not meet the operational needs of the industry, where workers may be required at short notice. • Location – Courses are usually delivered in major cities. This makes access to the training difficult for many workers, including once they are at sea. • Context – Courses are usually delivered in a classroom setting with activities related to survival in emergency situations at sea. They do not address general workplace safety such as manual handling, electrical safety, fall protection, noise, fatigue, hazardous substances, personal protective equipment (PPE), etc. • Access – The internet is rarely available at sea, making access to safety training and information impossible for much of the time workers are fishing. • Demographic – workers in the fishing industry are largely represented by young, early school leavers with a high sense of adventure and risk appetite. Learning must be structured with this in mind to ensure the learner is engaged and the lessons are delivered effectively. • Culture - the information both subliminal as well as overt sent out about safety.
The electronic LMS, which is the fundamental base for this project, is to be designed to address all of the above barriers, and provide a structured, cheap, easily accessible and timely safety course, in a manner which is readily absorbed and understood by the crew member undertaking the course. The training modules are to be delivered online and offline, making them accessible anywhere at any time and can also be tailored to specific industry sectors, while retaining the core units, and aim to achieve best practice in all aspects of WHS.
RIRDC initiated a project (attached) due to significant knowledge deficiencies in the area of commercial fishing occupational health and safety data and of the existing circumstances of the industry. The gaps in knowledge have arisen due to previous difficulties in collating and interpreting data, which have resulted from disaggregation of State data, creating difficulties in data analysis at the national level; availability of state data; and the nature of the fishing industry which results in many participants not being included in official statistics or records.
The report found that there was a lack of awareness of occupational health and safety, or safety culture, and that it still fails to be effectively dealt with across all States of Australia. The OHS data identifies that the claims for fatal injuries in aquaculture and non fatal in marine (or wild capture) fisheries are both increasing. The most ‘at risk’ group in the industry are those between the ages of 20 to 24 years, with those aged 45 – 54 years being the next most at risk group, who will receive injuries from non powered hand tools to their upper bodies. Objectives: 1. Design and trial the electronic Learning Management System in the Northern Prawn Fishery, and up to three other Australian domestic fisheries. Monitor the uptake, utility, and determine feedback on ease of use and applicability from the trials, to help make necessary modifications before distribution to others. 2. Create linkages and pathways for the LMS to be taken up by industry associations and agencies to be used in championing the improvement in safety culture and training with on-ground fishers. 3. Based on the trials, facilitate further development of 'fishery specific' modules via assistance from the PI and technical input from consultants (365 Solutions) to improve efficiency of the program and direct relevance to specific fisheries/sectors and/or agencies. 4. Utilise information from existing in-progress and under development safety projects funded by FRDC to ensure that the LMS is designed to optimise adoption and uptake by industry. 5. Identify and, where feasible, implement mechanisms to integrate the LMS into the overall marine safety program aimed at changing the culture and behaviour towards safety of the fishing industry. Read moreRead less
SCRC: PhD 6.04 Improving Safety And Marketability Of Australian Oysters
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Summary
Norovirus is the most common foodborne virus. Large outbreaks of norovirus illness associated with shellfish have occurred in Australia. Fourteen outbreaks of gastroenteritis were associated with oyster consumption in Australia between 2001 and 2008, norovirus was confirmed as the causative agent in most of these.
Recent findings demonstrate norovirus binds to receptors on oyster cells, and large variations in amounts of virus taken up by individuals, suggest that oysters may be geneti ....Norovirus is the most common foodborne virus. Large outbreaks of norovirus illness associated with shellfish have occurred in Australia. Fourteen outbreaks of gastroenteritis were associated with oyster consumption in Australia between 2001 and 2008, norovirus was confirmed as the causative agent in most of these.
Recent findings demonstrate norovirus binds to receptors on oyster cells, and large variations in amounts of virus taken up by individuals, suggest that oysters may be genetically predisposed to retaining norovirus. There is an opportunity for developing strategies to minimise contamination of oysters with norovirus such as efforts to breed oysters, or pre-treat oysters with virus inhibitors, so they do not bind large quantities of norovirus. These strategies have not been investigated previously and this research will contribute significantly to the current body of knowledge. The success of such approaches could lead to reductions in human illness from consumption of oysters.
Oyster growing areas that have been closed after being implicated in human outbreaks of norovirus gastroenteritis are required to have three consecutive clear rounds of testing prior to being re-opened for commercial harvesting. Some oyster growing areas have large numbers of cattle and pigs residing in the catchment and the following questions have been raised:
(a) Is the oyster norovirus test able to detect bovine and porcine norovirus which may pose no human health issue? (b) Do Australian cattle and pigs excrete human norovirus strains?
There are many different human norovirus strains which fall into two major genogroups. Current scientific information suggests that the current oyster norovirus test (specific for genogroup I and II) may cross react with some porcine norovirus strains, but the literature is scant with respect to information on the cross reactivity of bovine norovirus strains.Read moreRead less
Waterproof Labelling And Identification Systems Suitable For Shellfish And Other Seafood Products
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$9,800.00
Summary
Objectives: 1. To evaluate technology and products currently availabel for the individual tagging and identification of seafood products. 2. To identify the most appropriate technology and products (systems) and possible improvements to existing systems to enable for the on-farm tagging and identification of shellfish. 3. To evaluate the economic cost to industry of implementing the on-farm and market poace use of appropriate systems. 4. To evaluate the positive and negativ ....Objectives: 1. To evaluate technology and products currently availabel for the individual tagging and identification of seafood products. 2. To identify the most appropriate technology and products (systems) and possible improvements to existing systems to enable for the on-farm tagging and identification of shellfish. 3. To evaluate the economic cost to industry of implementing the on-farm and market poace use of appropriate systems. 4. To evaluate the positive and negative impacts in the market place resulting from the labelling of product. 5. To design an integrated "paddock to plate" trial to investigate both the on-farm feasibility of an appropriate tagging system(s) and the reliability tagging system(s) for market place product identification and traceback. Read moreRead less