Our research program

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.

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.

Strategic Research Plan

Our Strategic Research Plan 2005-2010 (PDF, 553kb) plan describes the way in which AFMA will support the management and development of Commonwealth fisheries resources through research during the five years 2005–2010.

Our partnership approach

The fisheries resources we manage are important community assets which support significant commercial fishing activity, recreational fishing and some subsistence and traditional fishing. The very nature of fish and their habitats means fisheries resources are also of interest to a range of other stakeholders, including environmental groups, resource managers, researchers, indigenous and community groups.

Cooperation with the research community, industry, government agencies and others with an interest in the sustainable management of the Commonwealth fisheries resources forms a crucial part of our approach to research.

This approach to research involves close consultation with managers, fishers, researchers and others. It provides opportunities for stakeholders to have input into the research priority-setting process through the Management Advisory Committees (MACs) for each major AFMA-managed fishery.

MACs often rely on advice from their specialist research subcommittees to identify the key research needs for the fishery and prepare annual five-year rolling research plans. In addition, MACs may take advice from fishery assessment groups established by the AFMA Commission on what information is required to improve the confidence in stock assessments.

The research process

AFMA does not undertake research in-house. Rather, it outsources research through the following process:

  • The Commonwealth Fisheries Research Advisory Body (ComFRAB) develops projects scopes for cross fishery research priorities
  • MACs solicit research proposals, in line with their priorities and five-year research plans, from a range of providers on an annual basis.
  • AFMA’s research section may also solicit proposals in line with AFMA’s strategic research plan.
  • The AFMA Research Committee (ARC) evaluates the proposals submitted against AFMA‘s Five Year Strategic Research Plan for their need, feasibility, and likelihood of contributing to improved management for the subject fishery.

In adopting this approach, AFMA is endeavouring to achieve greater awareness of fisheries research issues, as well as acceptance and ownership of the research priority-setting.

All applications for FRDC funding must be submitted through the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC) website at Fishnet.

All applications for AFMA (ARC) funding must be submitted to research.secretary@afma.gov.au using the AFMA research application form available under AFMA’s call for research page.