Calls for research

AFMA establishes research priorities for Commonwealth fisheries and arranges for research to be undertaken to address these priorities.

In line with these priorities, research undertaken for AFMA seeks to address a number of fisheries management related issues. The majority of research undertaken by AFMA pursues the following research objectives:

  • to undertake and improve fishery assessments, including biological and economic assessments of target stocks, bycatch species and fishery impacts on the ecosystem
  • to identify strategies to ensure the sustainable use of fishery resources and address information gaps to ensure the effective management of these fisheries.

The AFMA Research Committee (ARC) takes a leading role to determine research priorities and proposals for funding by AFMA in accordance with the ARC’s annual research cycle.

The Commonwealth Fisheries Research Advisory Body (ComFRAB) assesses applications for Commonwealth fisheries research for funding by the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC) in accordance with FRDC’s research cycle.

The ARC’s 2012 call for research

The ARC assesses applications for AFMA funded research for Commonwealth fisheries. The ARC, as part of the 2012 research funding round, is now calling for expressions of interest, focusing on areas of research that have potential application for a number of AFMA fisheries.

Applications for this year’s call for research are required to be lodged by Friday, 25 January 2013 using the AFMA research application form (Excel, 48kb).

The relevant project scopes are available below and are to be used as a guide for applicants developing their preliminary Expression of Interest (EOI) to meet the identified project needs. Applicants should be aware that these scopes are intended as a guide only.

EOIs must be lodged with AFMA (by email to Research.Secretary@afma.gov.au) by COB Friday, 25 January 2013.

The ComFRAB (FRDC) process

Further information on the FRDC process is available on the Fisheries Research and Development website or by contacting the AFMA Research Section on telephone (02) 6225 5432 or emailing Research.Secretary@afma.gov.au.