The Australian government is putting $480,000 (Euro300,000) into a new project which aims to boost the long-term profitability, sustainability and competitiveness of Australia''s multi-million dollar seafood industry.
Fisheries Minister Senator Ian Macdonald, and Federal Member for Eden Monaro Gary Nairn, announced the new initiative in Eden while meeting with fishermen.
Macdonald said the $480,000 -- to be matched by industry in kind and other support -- will come from the Aus$15 million, Industry Partnerships Programme, part of the Agriculture - Advancing Australia (AAA) package.
"The Seafood Industry Partnership project will focus on three Commonwealth-managed fisheries - the Eastern Tuna and Billfish, the South East Trawl and the Gillnet, Hook and Trap fisheries," Senator Macdonald said.
It will target three priority areas identified by industry:
* understanding social and cultural impediments to change - this will give industry and government a better idea of how training and communications can be better designed to help fishermen understand and respond to changing circumstances and future challenges
* business quota and marketing training - modelled on the Government's successful WineSkills program, this part of the project involves designing a pilot training program - 'FishSkills'. It will be specially tailored to meet the needs of fishermen operating in Commonwealth-run fisheries
* supply chain analysis - this will help identify ways of enhancing profitability along the entire supply chain
Senator Macdonald said the Australian fishing industry was facing a number of significant challenges, including rising fuel prices and rapidly changing marketplaces.
"The project would help the industry better take advantage of its position in the global marketplace and, perhaps more importantly, help it develop the strategies needed to quickly respond to the opportunities and challenges ahead," he added.
