Seafood Services Australia Ltd: Adding Value Throughout The Seafood Supply Chain
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$3,860,000.00
Summary
The 1993 Fishing Industry National Study (FINS) clearly identified that more cohesive and efficient delivery of the types services now provided under SSA’s umbrella was required to address important areas of market failure in the seafood industry and to help the industry identify and captilise on significant opportunities for industry development through post harvest value adding.
SSA’s products, services, and its comprehensive standards development process, are recognised nationally, ....The 1993 Fishing Industry National Study (FINS) clearly identified that more cohesive and efficient delivery of the types services now provided under SSA’s umbrella was required to address important areas of market failure in the seafood industry and to help the industry identify and captilise on significant opportunities for industry development through post harvest value adding.
SSA’s products, services, and its comprehensive standards development process, are recognised nationally, by industry and governments, as having contributed significantly to the development of the Australian seafood industry, especially through keeping the industry abreast of legislative and technological change. SSA’s work is also being recognised internationally and used as a model for other primary industry sectors. See Appendix C – SSA Annual Operating Plan, December 2001 to June 2002. Recent evaluations have identified opportunities to further improve SSA’s delivery of products and services to all sectors of the industry.
Incorporation of SSA Ltd establishes a rigorous, transparent and accountable management regime with significant industry ownership that will further focus the SSA’s activities through corporate leadership, strategic vision and closer links with the industry on a national basis. Formal corporate directorship processes will also ensure SSA’s operates strategically within the broad industry development program outlined in the Investing for tomorrow’s fish: the FRDC’s research and development plan, 2000 to 2005.
The SSA Network brings together industry and government members from each State and Territory, and the Commonwealth to seek solutions to a wide range of seafood supply chain issues, including issues of market failure, from seafood safety through to environmental management systems. Experience over the past three years has demonstrated the pivotal role the Network plays in achieving SSA's outcomes so successfully. This project will strengthen the Network so that it can continue to have input into priorities and work programs, thereby ensuring SSA Ltd activities are responsive, cohesive, and appropriately targeted.
SSA Ltd provides a flexible and responsive mechanism that will for the first time, enable the seafood industry to attract private and public funding for seafood industry development from non-traditional funding sources. It will do this by encouraging and supporting people, businesses and organisations in the seafood industry who want to: 1. continually improve and add value to their businesses, 2. continually improve their environmental performance, 3. meet consumer expectations (especially in having high levels of confidence in Australian seafood products), and 4. receive broad community support for their activities.
SSA Ltd will is uniquely poised to foster unprecedented and sustainable seafood industry development, generating significant social and economic benefits to Australia. Objectives: 1. To underpin the further development of Seafood Services Australia Limited as a vital, national resource focused on industry development throughout the entire seafood supply chain 2. To enable SSA Ltd to build on the achievements of its predecessors and, in particular, to: a. inspire more strategic, integrated and forward-looking outlooks and actions among key players in the fishing industry and those who support the industry; b. encourage a “whole-of-supply-chain” approach to fisheries R&D planning and investment; c. encourage awareness and adoption of environmental management, quality management and food safety systems and associated certification; d. optimise national investment in fisheries R&D through influencing the way in which other R&D funding entities apply their industry development investments;e. deliver cost-effective, appropriate and timely knowledge, processes and technologies to enhance the industry’s profitability, international competitiveness and social resilience;f. develop and enhance effective networks within the seafood industry and between the seafood industry, researchers and government agencies involved in seafood industry development, both within Australia and overseas (See Section 5 of the Business Plan);g. facilitate the dissemination, adoption and commercialisation of research results and other material for the benefit of the seafood industry;h. provide commercially sound advice and investment relating to industry development R&D; 3. Position the seafood industry to meet future challenges by working with industry to develop and implement world’s best practice standards throughout the entire seafood supply chain. 4. Establish and maintain rigorous and accountable corporate governance procedures within SSA Ltd. 5. Establish a flexible and responsive mechanism that enables the seafood industry to attract private and public funding for seafood industry development from non-traditional funding sources. Read moreRead less
Mapping The Economic And Social Contributions Of The NT Seafood Industry – Part 2
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$295,760.00
Summary
The Northern Territory Seafood Council (NTSC) and the Northern Territory Government (NTG) recognise the vital need to bridge the knowledge gap regarding the economic impact of the NT seafood industry. This gap severely impedes effective advocacy for industry growth and development by the NTSC and hampers evidence decision-making. Without a comprehensive understanding of the industry's economic footprint throughout the supply chain of each major fishery/sector, it is challenging to address critic ....The Northern Territory Seafood Council (NTSC) and the Northern Territory Government (NTG) recognise the vital need to bridge the knowledge gap regarding the economic impact of the NT seafood industry. This gap severely impedes effective advocacy for industry growth and development by the NTSC and hampers evidence decision-making. Without a comprehensive understanding of the industry's economic footprint throughout the supply chain of each major fishery/sector, it is challenging to address critical issues and identify vulnerable points within the sector.
A whole of fishery and sector analysis, will provide essential insights for targeted advocacy and informed decision-making, fostering sustainable growth, enhancing resilience, and addressing critical issues within the Northern Territory's seafood industry.
Understanding the complete value of the NT seafood industry to the local community is crucial for making strategic decisions related to negotiations such as those concerning Blue Mud Bay and infrastructure investments. It will also contribute to ongoing investment in the industry.
The project aims to test economic protocols and processes identified in FRDC Project 2021-034 to establish cost-effective and valued systems beyond its duration. These systems will incorporate socio-economic information into decision-making processes and shift the culture from a government-driven collection process to one driven by the industry.
Without a plan to highlight the wider socio-economic value and benefits of the industry, the industry may face mounting pressure on its social license to operate, impacting access, industry structure, and fees. Moreover, the lack of understanding regarding the consequences of uncertainty surrounding secure access and potential loss of access for commercial fishers may have unintended effects on the NT seafood industry. Additionally, the limited availability of current financial and economic information for NT fisheries hampers economic analysis and the provision of advice to policymakers and decision-makers, hindering opportunities for growth and sustainability.
With that context in mind, NTSC experience to date identifies a number of known issues with existing data, including: - Limitations in the scope of data available which has historically excluded measurement of the contributions made by commercial charter fishing, processing of imported seafood, and activities downstream of immediate seafood processing (i.e. transport to retail markets, retail sector activity). - The poor quality of economic data (such as production, price and employment data) necessary to improve estimates of direct or initial effects from fishing, aquaculture production and processing in some fisheries and for some sub-sectors and seafood processing (where there is a need to further disaggregate ANZSIC categories or investigate alternative means of measurement for fisheries with too few licence holders for data to be reported). - Gaps in data regarding indirect contributions, including downstream production-induced and consumption-induced effects, where key data regarding employment, household-income and enterprise-level cost of production (i.e. expenditure on goods and services as inputs to fishing and aquaculture production) are unknown. - Gaps in data for a range of monetised and non-monetised social, environmental and cultural activities which contribute value to individuals and communities. While previous estimations have referred to the social contributions of fisheries and aquaculture to regional communities this has not involved any primary data collection or analysis of secondary data, requiring further work to select specific indicators and the basis of evidence.
In scoping and analysing the available data, the project will use third party providers to: - Ensure data collection methods are consistent and participant consent and privacy is achieved. The privacy of participants must be protected through adherence to the Australian Privacy Principles in the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), such that names of individuals are not recorded. Where the explicit informed consent of participants is required this may include a requirement to sign a consent form. Under circumstances where a vulnerable group is consulted, such as Indigenous Territorians, specific consent may be required from a Human Research Ethics Committee to ensure the data collection process causes no harm to participants. - Ensure data storage is secure and access is limited to the reasonable requirements of the project. All digital data (i.e. from an online survey) would be stored on a secure network with file access restricted to the nominated project team through use of file encryption and passwords. Any primary data collected cannot be used for any purpose other than that required to meet study objectives.
Objectives: 1. Understanding of the economic footprint of the NT seafood industry within the NT economy 2. Understanding of the economic footprint of the NT seafood industry within the Australian economy 3. Understanding the economic footprint of the main fishery sectors and their supply chains 4. Improved understanding and valuation of the NT seafood industry 5. Improved understanding of where the vulnerable points in the supply chain are Read moreRead less
Human Dimensions Research Coordination Program 2021-24
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$440,705.00
Summary
The operating environment within which Australian fisheries and aquaculture are positioned is complex, comprising economic, social and political institutions and organisations that are continuously being re-shaped by multiple external and internal drivers.
Addressing these specific drivers requires understanding of the human dimensions of fisheries and aquaculture, along with the biophysical. Human dimensions refers to the social, economic and cultural factors that affect outcomes for b ....The operating environment within which Australian fisheries and aquaculture are positioned is complex, comprising economic, social and political institutions and organisations that are continuously being re-shaped by multiple external and internal drivers.
Addressing these specific drivers requires understanding of the human dimensions of fisheries and aquaculture, along with the biophysical. Human dimensions refers to the social, economic and cultural factors that affect outcomes for both the seafood community and in terms of public good. This includes the attitudes, processes and behaviours of individual people, companies, management agencies, communities, organisations, consumers, and markets. Human dimensions research has been successfully applied to understand how to enable better outcomes for Australia's fisheries and aquaculture (e.g. improved social acceptability, resilience through shocks, inclusive growth, economic productivity), and what are the effective strategies to achieve this (e.g. market based mechanisms, behavioural approaches). It brings together research capability from a broad range of disciplines.
Historically, achieving the level of coordinated investment required to effectively deliver against this need has been hampered by a range of factors, which have included: • effective integration of human dimensions RD&E with biophysical sciences; and • research capability and expertise capable of undertaking such research to ensure end user needs are met.
The FRDC has invested substantively in human dimensions R&D capability in recognition of this need. Ongoing coordination and strategic development of human dimensions R&D activities will support the FRDC to deliver its Fish Forever 2030 vision: Collaborative, vibrant fishing and aquaculture, creating diverse benefits from aquatic resources, and celebrated by the community.
The FRDC considers Coordination Programs as critical to delivering relevant outcomes of the R&D Plan. With respect to Human Dimensions, it is evident that a planned R&D outcome can be achieved more successfully if expertise and related activities are developed and managed in a coordinated manner. Objectives: 1. Identify and coordinate the development of human dimensions R&D priorities through review and consultation with key stakeholders, and assist to develop scopes to address those priorities 2. Ensure quality and relevance of human dimensions R&D through technical and extension advice and support for FRDC management and project teams 3. Support management of external partnerships delivering human dimensions R&D across FRDC 4. Support development of FRDC human dimensions data and analytics 5. Inform FRDC and stakeholders of state of knowledge and capability, and emerging needs, in key human dimensions R&D areas relevant to the FRDC's R&D Plan outcome and enabling strategy areas 6. Support extension and adoption of R&D in key human dimensions R&D areas relevant to the FRDC R&D Plan outcome and enabling strategy areas 7. Develop and foster R&D collaboration on international initiatives in human dimensions research of relevance to Australian fisheries and aquaculture Read moreRead less
Welfare reform and welfare stigma : scroungers, slackers and bludgers? This project aims to build an evidence base of the prevalence, causes and consequences of welfare stigma in Australia. Welfare policies and proposed reforms aim to reduce welfare expenditure, increase workforce participation, and promote personal and family wellbeing. However, stigmatising attitudes and discrimination towards those receiving welfare benefits may undermine these policy goals: reducing employment opportunities ....Welfare reform and welfare stigma : scroungers, slackers and bludgers? This project aims to build an evidence base of the prevalence, causes and consequences of welfare stigma in Australia. Welfare policies and proposed reforms aim to reduce welfare expenditure, increase workforce participation, and promote personal and family wellbeing. However, stigmatising attitudes and discrimination towards those receiving welfare benefits may undermine these policy goals: reducing employment opportunities and causing poorer health and wellbeing. Through innovative experimental studies, the project plans to identify ways in which welfare policy can minimise stigma and promote employment. Project outcomes may provide an evidence base for the design of more effective welfare policy.Read moreRead less
A community based social identity approach to loneliness. Loneliness across Australia is a deep concern. Social prescribing is a novel community-based approach to managing loneliness, however it is unclear when and in what circumstances it is effective. This project aims to test a social identity approach to loneliness, incorporating longitudinal, cross-sectional, and experimental methods to understand how best to engage isolated people in group programs. The expected benefits of this project ar ....A community based social identity approach to loneliness. Loneliness across Australia is a deep concern. Social prescribing is a novel community-based approach to managing loneliness, however it is unclear when and in what circumstances it is effective. This project aims to test a social identity approach to loneliness, incorporating longitudinal, cross-sectional, and experimental methods to understand how best to engage isolated people in group programs. The expected benefits of this project are to produce a validated social prescribing model that can be implemented in multiple settings across Australia in order to reduce loneliness, strengthen communities, and guide more appropriate uses of health services.Read moreRead less
Establishment Of A Coordination Program For Social Sciences In The Fishing Industry
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$38,000.00
Summary
To address the action arising from Board 99 to establish a social research co-ordination program. Objectives: 1. To resource Kal Analysis to develop the social sciences coordination program