Research, Development and Extension
Research, Development and Extension (RD&E) generates significant returns to industry through tangible improvements in industry profitability and productivity, as well as delivering outcomes relating to securing resource access, sustinability and supporting improvements in fisheries management.
WAFIC is the only fishing industry organisation of its kind to have an active and permanent research development and extension programme. Established in 1993, the RD&E programme exists to help people in the industry with their own R&D efforts, and particularly to find grants that will help spread the risks involved in applied RD&E for our industry.
Click here to view the WAFIC Research & Development directory
WAFIC's RD&E program was established to ensure that industry's investment in RD&E boosts industry profitability and helps to secure resource access. There are three facets of the program:
1. To be the Fisheries Research Advisory Body (FRAB) for the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC)
Each State has a FRAB, and their function is to review FRDC project applications on behalf of the Corporation. The WA FRAB is the only one in the country to be housed in an industry council.
2. To manage projects funded by the Australian Seafood Cooperative Research Centre (CRC)
WAFIC is the only WA industry member of the Seafood CRC. The CRC funds development projects with co-funding from WAFIC and the FRDC.
3. Provision of External Grant Funding assistance
The RD&E Manager actively pursues the most appropriate source of State or Federal funding to underwrite industry-driven RD&E. In the last three years over $2 million has been levered for industry development projects.
For further information on researchers go to the Research and Development Directory or contact Richard Stevens.
