About our Research and Theme Business Plans

Our research currently sits within two research programs. These are:

Program 1 (Production Innovation)

"Pre-harvest activities"

Outcome: Substantial increase in the production and profitability of selected wild-harvest and aquaculture species.

Quantity and value of this outcome: This program aims to generate an increase in Australian seafood company profits by about $240 million annually through a combination of anticipated savings in input costs and improved management practices. Additional profits will be generated in new and developing sectors (e.g. Sea Cucumber fishery, inland saline aquaculture, Yellowtail Kingfish and oyster breeding and management).

By year ten (2017), directly and indirectly the seafood industry sectors investing in this program will add significantly to the gross domestic production and will generate a significant number of jobs - many being in rural and regional areas.

Program 2 (Product and Market Development)

"Post-harvest activities"

Outcome: Increased demand and access to premium markets for Australian seafood; fulfilment of consumer demands for safe, high-quality, nutritious seafood products; and increased profitability throughout the value chain.

Quantity and value of this outcome: This program will generate additional profit margins through improved market access (Rocklobster, Southern Bluefin Tuna, prawns) and reduced spoilage and loss (processed marine finfish).

By year ten (2017), directly and indirectly the seafood industry sectors investing in this program will add significantly to the gross domestic production and generate jobs - many in rural and regional areas.

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Research Theme Business Plans

The Cooperative Research Centre Program descriptions broadly outline the outcomes we are seeking to achieve.

The Strategic Plans prepared by many industry sectors provide us with strong direction and we are building our research projects that will deliver the outputs and outcomes. We also build in every opportunity for industry sectors and research providers to cooperate to enable better outcomes to be delivered sooner.To assist this planning process, the Cooperative Research Centre takes a "Research Theme" approach. A research theme describes a collection or project activitites with a common underlying technical basis aimed at achieving outcomes for one or more industry sectors.

Each theme has its own theme business plan that describes the desired industry outcome, the strategies to achieve it, the outputs (or objectives) for each strategy, costs, key “go-no go” points, agreed methods of measuring progress and evaluation. Within each theme there will be technical, communication and educational project activities, each with their own outputs that contribute to the outcome.


Functions of Theme Business Plans:

• They are used to consult with industry to ensure the company’s research and development directions are correct.

• They identify synergies between industries and research providers that can lead to collaboration.

• They set the outcomes for which our Program Managers agree to be accountable.

• They are the documents by which the Board can endorse significant expenditure.

• They are documents that can be used to inform research and development providers about the nature of research and development required by the Seafood Cooperative Research Centre.

• They describe the agreement between the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation and the Seafood Cooperative Research Centre on areas of activity for which we will be responsible.

The Six Theme Business Plans

1. Breeding for Profit - Genetics (Atlantic Salmon, Oysters, Abalone, Sea Cucumbers, Yellowtail Kingfish, Barramundi, farmed Prawns) - Dr Graham Mair (Program 1).

2. FinFish - Aquaculture production innovation (nutrition, larval rearing including temperate marine finfish aquaculture network). - Dr Graham Mair and Dr Geoff Allan (Program 1).

3. Future Harvest - Wild harvest production innovation - Dr Patrick Hone and Dr Caleb Gardener (Program 1).

4. SellFish - Consumption drivers and barriers (consumer needs, market research) - Ms Jayne Gallagher and Mr Paul Graham (Program 2).

5. OzSeaValue - Supply Chain Management Technologies (traceability, product authentication, rapid diagnostics, predictive microbiology and quality index manuals), Processing (new product and process development, freshness, shelf-life, packaging, waste utilisation, processing techniques) and Technical Market Access (risk assessment for specific chemicals and product integrity) - Ms Jayne Gallagher and Mr Bob Fleming (Program 2).

6. A,B, Sea - Higher Education (PhDs, Post Doctoral Research Scientists and Post Graduates) and Industry Participants' Skills Development - Ms Emily Mantilla, Dr Tom Ross, Dr Mark Tamplin and Mr Roy Palmer (Program 3).

This page was last updated: 22nd December 2009