UTS researchers will visit Eden, Bermagui, Narooma, Batemans Bay and Ulladulla this week, part of an ongoing two-year project researching the importance of commercial fishing to NSW regional communities, funded by Fisheries Research and Development.
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Fishers are invited to complete a detailed survey to gather vital industry, economic and social data that will guide future industry strategies, action and seek sustainable outcomes.
They will also be asked to participate in interviews to be conducted in the area this week.
University of Technology, Sydney researchers have progressively targeted major commercial fishing communities across NSW and have so far interviewed more than 100 fishers, community members, council staff, councillors and business people across the state.
This week they will be talking to a range of people engaged in the fishing industry throughout the South Coast and are keen to hear from people who would like to be involved.
Australian commercial fishers face a growing list of hurdles to assure prosperity and sustainability - industry restructures, introduction of marine parks and recreational fishing havens, environmental and fish habitat degradation, rising costs and overseas competition are just a few.
The research will help a range of stakeholders better understand how commercial fishing sustains local communities.
UTS researcher Dr Kate Barclay, an expert in international tuna industries, said the gap in data about the contribution the commercial fishing makes to a community economically, socially and culturally was a concern given the diverse challenges it faces.
She said while there had been recent calls from recreational fishers to further restrict professional fishing on the South Coast there is little data available to determine how additional closures would impact the local economy, supplies of fresh seafood or the social fabric of coastal communities.
“Most of us live near the coast in Australia, yet few of us realise how much the fabric of our lives, the prosperity of our communities and even our cultural identities owe to regional fishing industries,” Dr Barclay said.
“Australia is a world leader in maintaining the health of its marine resources; but right now we can’t predict how a serious decline in commercial fishing would affect the economic and social fabric of many coastal communities.
“The two-year study – Valuing Coastal Fisheries- is the first to target multiple fishing communities to understand the challenges and identify the opportunities for industry.
“This will provide all tiers of government the information needed to make informed decision about changes based on local needs.”
Study co-researcher, Dr Michelle Voyer said the success of their work and the depth of its value would be achieved only through collaboration and input from local businesses and the wider community.
“There has been much past scientific research on biological factors in fishing but with little on its social and economic significance, we will need as much input from local operators and the community as possible,” Dr Voyer said.
“We know conditions will vary from community to community and that much local knowledge and indeed accumulated intergenerational wisdom may need to be gathered.
“As our research unfolds in stages in our target communities, we will call on a range of sectors to add their knowledge and insights.
“We hope an outcome of the research will be that different groups within communities work together on strategies leading to prosperous, environmentally responsible and sustainable fishing industries in their region.”
The researchers are visiting Eden this week up to Thursday, then Bermagui and Narooma on Thursday and Batemans Bay on Friday.
Information about the research project and how to participate, as well as registering your interest in updates visit the Valuing Coastal Fisheries Facebook page and web site:
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