Seafood CRC: Maximising The Quality Of Australian Wild-caught Prawns (Quality Assurance)
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$177,179.94
Summary
Despite overwhelming support for industry investment to implement the national prawn market development strategy developed by Brand Council (CRC 2011/736), a major aligned industry concern was the inconsistent quality of, in particular wild caught prawns, and how this inconsistency may have the potential to negatively impact the market development activities. The Australian wild catch prawn industry is widely distributed and characterised by variation in geography, target species, operating/h ....Despite overwhelming support for industry investment to implement the national prawn market development strategy developed by Brand Council (CRC 2011/736), a major aligned industry concern was the inconsistent quality of, in particular wild caught prawns, and how this inconsistency may have the potential to negatively impact the market development activities. The Australian wild catch prawn industry is widely distributed and characterised by variation in geography, target species, operating/harvest systems, size of vessel and operator capabilities. Additionally, there can be high staff turnover, language and cultural differences and literacy issues. This leads to inconsistent product harvesting, brining, cooling, preserving, packaging and grading and/or inappropriate processing, which causes inconsistent product quality. Such quality issues can be exacerbated by poor handling at both retailer and consumer level.
While prawn quality standards have previously been created, there has been little integration, acceptance or uptake of these standards and associated training by indutry More often, standards have been created at fishery, company and vessel level, or are at the request of down chain partners. With considerable industry investment to both develop and implement the national Australian prawn strategy, there is now a greater incentive for the production of a consistent quality product to underpin the Australian prawn strategy messages/activities and ensure the best possible prawn experience for consumers.
Objectives: 1. The Australian prawn market development strategy is underpinned by supply of a consistent, high quality product. 2. To establish, trial, and evaluate the impact of a national, whole of chain, prawn quality program for grading, shelf-life, appearance and provenance of Australian prawns. Read moreRead less
A Study Of The Retail Sale And In-home Consumption Of Seafood In Sydney
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$115,000.00
Summary
Given the many changes to the business environment and eating habits in Sydney since the National Fish Consumption Study, particularly this year, there is a need for up to date reliable information on the retail sale and in home consumption of seafood in Sydney to comprehend and overcome this reported downturn in seafood retail sales and for long term planning for the producers and marketers of seafood.
This information would also allow industry to make better use of underutilised seafo ....Given the many changes to the business environment and eating habits in Sydney since the National Fish Consumption Study, particularly this year, there is a need for up to date reliable information on the retail sale and in home consumption of seafood in Sydney to comprehend and overcome this reported downturn in seafood retail sales and for long term planning for the producers and marketers of seafood.
This information would also allow industry to make better use of underutilised seafood species which are currently not fetching high prices. With the growing number of Vietnamese and Korean fish shops in Sydney, some importing fresh seafood from Vietnam, and the growing interest in ethnic foods, import replacement with our underutilised species is of great importance.
Australia as a whole can benefit from the results of this research because Sydney is the major domestic market for seafood, wild caught or farm grown, in all states.
The Olympics in Sydney in the year 2000 places even greater importance on having reliable information for sound planning for future seafood needs. This study on the retail sector would complement an earlier study on the seafood demand from the catering sector undertaken by the applicant for the FRDC last year. Objectives: 1. To measure retail sales and in-home consumption of seafood in Sydney: examine the species and volumes purchased by consumers; 2. Examine the factors influencing consumer decisions to buy/not buy; 3. Examine retailer's purchases, behaviour and attitudes; 4. Propose actions which can be taken to increase the sale and consumption of Australian seafoods, particularly underutilised species, in a profitable manner for both the producers and retailers. Read moreRead less
Tactical Research Fund: Providing Social Science Objectives And Indicators To Compare Management Options In The Queensland Trawl Planning Process
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$95,000.00
Summary
Fisheries management has mostly been directed by economic and ecological objectives. With the introduction of the call for triple bottom line assessments of industry and government performance, a need for social objectives has become apparent which has remained largely unaddressed in terms of integration into management plans for specific fisheries.
In addition, consideration of social impacts of different management options are very important for the Queensland trawl fishery. The rea ....Fisheries management has mostly been directed by economic and ecological objectives. With the introduction of the call for triple bottom line assessments of industry and government performance, a need for social objectives has become apparent which has remained largely unaddressed in terms of integration into management plans for specific fisheries.
In addition, consideration of social impacts of different management options are very important for the Queensland trawl fishery. The reason for this is that the fishery ranges from having communities where trawling is the major source of income to the opposite case where trawling is only a minor component of the community activities and income. The fishery also spans almost the whole length of the eastern Queensland coast with a complex multi-species, multi-fleet fishery which is worth about $100M - Queensland's most valuable fishery. Management options need to balance community, economic and biological needs. Any changes to the management of the fishery can substantially change the biological status of stocks, fishery profitability but also equity between fleets and communities.
Queensland DEEDI are presently developing a new draft Plan for comment and input to this is essential and urgent.
There is therefore a need for specific social objectives and associated relevant indicators for Queensland DEEDI to use in the development of management plans and the assessment of them.
Objectives: 2. Test and verify applicability of social objectives and indicators using semi-quantitative analyses with stakeholder groups 3. Identify social objective and indicators of relevance to the Queensland trawl fishery Read moreRead less
Tactical Research Fund: Measuring Dropout Rates From Commercial Demersal Gillnets In Western Australia
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$63,280.00
Summary
Demersal scalefish species account for between 11 and 17% of the total catch composition of the Western Australian Temperate Gillnet Fishery (1994 to 1999). Scalefish landings for 2005/06 amounted to 236t in the JASDGDLMF and the WCDGDLMF.
While demersal scalefish are a legitimate component of the catch, strong concern has been raised by the recreational sector, that considerable numbers of scalefish are dropping out of commercial gillnets, particularly iconic species such as West Aust ....Demersal scalefish species account for between 11 and 17% of the total catch composition of the Western Australian Temperate Gillnet Fishery (1994 to 1999). Scalefish landings for 2005/06 amounted to 236t in the JASDGDLMF and the WCDGDLMF.
While demersal scalefish are a legitimate component of the catch, strong concern has been raised by the recreational sector, that considerable numbers of scalefish are dropping out of commercial gillnets, particularly iconic species such as West Australian Dhufish (Glaucosoma hebraicum), Blue Groper (Achoerodus gouldii) and Snapper (Pagrus auratus). As a result of this perception, conflict between recreational and commercial sectors has escalated substantially over the last five years.
In light of recent restrictions on recreational bag limits for iconic WA finfish such as G. hebraicum and P. auratus, the issue of scalefish ‘dropouts’ from commercial gillnets raises concern with respect to the catch efficiency and the ability of nets to retain demersal scalefish. The issue has the potential to negatively impact upon the security of future commercial access to the fishery.
Quantifying the number of scalefish that encounter nets, identifying species vulnerable to dropout and knowing where and when they are more likely to drop out of commercial gillnets (alive and dead) will complement existing catch composition data obtained by the DoF.
The WA Demersal Gillnet and Demersal Longline Association encourage the implementation of initiatives consistent with the principles of ecological sustainable development. Professional fishermen have expressed a willingness to investigate the claims of high dropout rates of finfish from gillnets, ensuring catch rates are sustainable and improving the public’s perception of the fishery. As the fishery is now undergoing pre-assessment for Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification, the need for accurate data to determine if demersal scalefish are dropping out of demersal gillnets is critical for an informed risk assessment of this fishery. Objectives: 1. Determine the dropout rate of targeted demersal scalefish from commercial gillnets 2. Determine the retention rate (catch efficiency) of commercial gillnets. 3. Identify species prone to dropouts and quantify dropouts at a regional level 4. Identify stages in the fishing process where dropouts are more likely to occur. 5. Determine the level of interaction between commercial fishing gear and non-target species Read moreRead less
There is a need for a consolidated national report on the status of key wild catch Australian fish stocks, focusing on commercial and recreational target species. One pitfall of guides like the Australia’s Sustainable Seafood Guide is their focus on entire species, without considering differences among stocks within each species. Consequently, a poor status determination for one stock can result in a poor status determination for all stocks of that species regardless of whether or not the other ....There is a need for a consolidated national report on the status of key wild catch Australian fish stocks, focusing on commercial and recreational target species. One pitfall of guides like the Australia’s Sustainable Seafood Guide is their focus on entire species, without considering differences among stocks within each species. Consequently, a poor status determination for one stock can result in a poor status determination for all stocks of that species regardless of whether or not the other stocks are healthy. Government can avoid this pitfall by clearly articulating the status of individual fish stocks. Australia’s different jurisdictions have demonstrated their capacity to work constructively together to achieve common goals (e.g. joint stock assessments for shared stocks). However, the current differences in scope, depth, terminology and benchmarking in jurisdictionally based Fishery Status Reports make it difficult to readily compare the status of stocks across jurisdictions and build a coherent national status of key species.
The National Fishery Status Reports would not be promoted as an eco-labelling guide but rather as a government produced instrument designed to simplify comparison of the status of key wild capture fish stocks around Australia both within and among jurisdictions. This information would be available for the general public, policy makers and industry to make informed decisions in relation to the actual health of various stocks. The reports would also provide an important and accurate information source for international organisations (e.g. FAO). The process of producing these reports will improve communication between the jurisdictions, leading to a better understanding of the status determinations made by each jurisdiction and how these compare. One of the main outcomes already achieved from the recent jurisdictional planning workshops is the convergence on a common system of benchmarking and terminology for use across jurisdictions. Objectives: 1. To produce the first National Fishery Status Reports. Read moreRead less