Talking about the future of seafood production and meeting with stakeholders will be the focus for the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC) Board’s next meeting and industry visits through Adelaide and surrounds.
The FRDC Chair, the Hon. Ron Boswell, said "FRDC sees South Australia as one of the leading food production centres in Australia. Its seafood industry is arguably second to none and contributes some of the world’s best seafood including Southern Rock Lobster, Abalone, Southern Bluefin Tuna and of course oysters".
The Board will visit two major seafood producers Blue Crab Fishers Dennis and Karen Holder and Kingfish producer Cleanseas while touring through Port Adelaide. Both these companies are pushing the boundaries of innovation within the seafood sector, says the Hon. Ron Boswell.
The Hon. Ron Boswell says the FRDC has many partners and stakeholders in South Australia. A key partner is the South Australian Government and the Department of Primary Industry and Resources South Australia (PIRSA). "Meeting with major partners, like PIRSA, is important to hear what they have to say."
The Board is keen to speak with innovative fisher Dennis Holder, who recently completed his Nuffield Scholarship Report Old Men: Older Boats - Electric Drive, Power Storage and Power Generation in Commercial Fishing Vessels, which looked to identify new technologies in vessel design and propulsion and assess whether they can be applied to fishing vessels in Australia.
FRDC Managing Director, Dr Patrick Hone, said "the Board places a strong emphasis on engaging with stakeholders at the industry level. We want to hear first-hand about the issues they are facing".
"Over the past ten years the FRDC has invested in excess of $20 million dollars into fisheries research and development projects in South Australia with the local seafood industry, said Dr Hone".
"Dr Hone says it’s important for the FRDC to meet with stakeholders and discuss current investment in research, development, and extension with the people who are actually on the water".
Media representatives are invited and welcome to attend the industry stakeholder function and to meet with the board and stakeholders at the gathering. ---
