The WRL-FRDC Industry Partnership Agreement (the IPA)

The Western Rock Lobster Council (WRL) and the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC) have established a collaborative partnership to drive research, development, and extension initiatives within the Western Rock Lobster industry. 

This joint effort is guided by the WRL-FRDC Industry Partnership Agreement (IPA), aimed at fulfilling WRL’s strategic objectives, addressing industry risks, and supporting the priorities outlined in the RD&E Plan.

To effectively allocate resources and prioritise investments, WRL collaborates not only with FRDC but also with the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD). Together, we concentrate our efforts and funding into RD&E priority areas, ensuring a focused approach to drive positive outcomes.

The planning and execution of RD&E investments, projects, and programs are undertaken through a collaborative partnership involving WRL, FRDC, DPIRD, research providers, and industry stakeholders. Consultation with WRL members, the Fishing Operations Committee, and the board plays a crucial role in shaping our initiatives and ensuring their relevance and effectiveness.

Programs in the IPA

Project number: 2020-123

Western rock lobster life stage biology, behaviour, and ecology research program.

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Project number: 2021-091

Whale entanglement mitigation program – understanding whale population dynamics, entanglement dynamics and gear modifications to reduce entanglements in WRL fishing gear.

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Project 2024-052

Digital Transformation of the WRL industry to help resolve challenges and leverage opportunities to grow GVP and maintain competitiveness Phase 2

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Project number: 2022-060

Understanding the Economics and Markets of the Western Rock Lobster industry.

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Project NUMBER 2024-037

Community and Industry Outreach Program

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Projects in the IPA

Project number: 2016-164

Assess the feasibility of holding the 12th International Conference and Workshop on Lobster in Perth, WA in 2020.

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Project number: 2020-059

Western Rock Lobster Research, Development and Extension Program.

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Project number: 2019-153

Minor Use Permit development for use of AQUI-S (isoeugenol 540g/L) by the Australian lobster industry.

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Project number: 2019-159

Developing an independent shallow-water survey for the Western Rock Lobster Fishery: tracking pre-recruitment abundance and habitat change.

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Project number: 2020-060

Western Rock Lobster Professional Industry Development.

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Project number: 2021-018

SafeFish 2021-2025.

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Project number: 2022-109

Trans Tasman Rock Lobster Industry Congress – Locking in the Future: 2023-2031.

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Project NUMBER 2024-046

Safefish 2025-2030

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Tools & Databases

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Deck Program

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WRL Membership

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Project number: 2020-123

Western rock lobster life stage biology, behaviour, and ecology research program.

The Biology, Behaviour, and Ecology (BBE) research program is dedicated to the sustainable management of the western rock lobster resource. Its primary goal is to strategically control the research focus and streamline the research application process, ensuring efficient administration and timely execution of small to medium-sized research projects.

Understanding the lifecycle of the western rock lobster, its ecology (including oceanography), and current stock levels/population structures is fundamental for managing the sustainability of this valuable natural resource. It also empowers the industry to make informed decisions on catch limits and fishing strategies, reducing risks associated with these activities.

Over the past 70 years, extensive scientific research has been conducted on the western rock lobster, resulting in hundreds of peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters, and scientific reports. While the dynamics of its biology, behaviour, and ecosystem are constantly changing due to factors such as exploitation rates, shifts in predator and prey populations, habitat variations, marine heatwaves, and climate change, much of the historical research remains highly relevant. However, due to the sheer volume of publications and the passage of time, a significant portion of this valuable research has been forgotten, creating a knowledge gap in our understanding of this species.

In addition to addressing this knowledge gap, the BBE research program continuously adapts to evolving research priorities driven by the ever-changing environment experienced by commercial fishers. Interactions with marine parks, Oil and Gas exploration, seismic surveys, changing legislation, and market demands have introduced new challenges and research areas. By gaining a clear understanding of existing knowledge, identifying relevant research, and addressing current and future demands, we can direct research efforts effectively and provide the industry with the necessary tools to remain highly efficient and profitable.

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Project 2021-091

Whale entanglement mitigation program – understanding whale population dynamics, entanglement dynamics and gear modifications to reduce entanglements in WRL fishing gear.

Since the cessation of commercial whaling in Australia in 1978, the population of humpback whales off the Western Australian coast has been steadily increasing. This, coupled with changes in the fishing practices of western rock lobster fishers, has led to a rise in entanglements, reaching its peak in 2013. To address this issue, a series of mitigation measures based on two projects funded by the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC) were introduced into the fishery.

An assessment of these measures revealed their effectiveness in significantly reducing entanglements of humpback whales in lobster gear. However, with the humpback population still growing, further efforts are necessary to minimise interactions.

To support ongoing research and reduce interactions, the WRL/FRDC Whale Entanglement Mitigation Program provides funding for various projects. These initiatives aim to gain a better understanding of humpback whale migration patterns, enabling the development of targeted mitigation measures that minimise impact on fishing operation while effectively reducing entanglements. Research may also focus on innovative gear modifications to mitigate entanglements or improve training and resources for disentanglement options.

Through these research programs and proactive measures, the WRL industry is taking steps to identify and implement mitigation measures should interactions increase in the future. This collaborative effort demonstrates the industry’s commitment to coexistence between humpback whales and fishers while ensuring the long-term sustainability of both the fishing industry and whale populations.

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Project 2021-030

Digital transformation of the WRL industry to help resolve challenges and leverage opportunities to grow GVP and maintain competitiveness.

The Western Rock Lobster industry is embracing digital transformation to address challenges, seize opportunities, and propel growth while honing its competitive edge. Guided by the Industry Digital Strategy (IDS), which serves as a comprehensive roadmap, the industry is harnessing digital technologies to deliver a wide array of benefits including improved operational efficiencies, streamlined supply chain logistics, and enhanced compliance with state reporting regulations.

Specific elements being delivered include:

  1. Streamlined catch reporting, scanning, weighing and grading
  2. Unique identification of every animal caught
  3. Tracking animals through the supply chain from the boat to the plate
  4. A unit registry and quota trading platform
  5. An online marketplace and tools for conducting Back of Boat sales
  6. An Industry Engagement Platform to enhance communication; and
  7. Subsea data collection to enhance our knowledge of the lobster’s environment.


By digitising systems and processes the IDS enables real-time data collection and reporting, ensuring accurate and timely management of essential information. This seamless flow of information helps maintain transparency and accountability within the industry, facilitating knowledge transfer, effective governance, and enhanced regulatory compliance.  This digital transformation reduces administrative burdens on fishers, enabling them to devote more time and resources to their core activities.

Through the IDS, the industry is charting a course towards a digital future, driven by innovation and powered by cutting-edge technologies. By embracing this digital revolution, the Western Rock Lobster industry is poised to thrive in the dynamic landscape of the global market, while fostering sustainable growth and environmental stewardship.

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Project 2022-060

Understanding the Economics and Markets of the Western Rock Lobster industry

This program focuses on enhancing the commercial Western Rock Lobster industry’s understanding of the industry’s economics, such as boat and business costs, as well as markets. Its primary objective is to improve the industry’s knowledge of its competitiveness in global markets, maximise the overall value of the fishery, and assist individual operations in identifying key drivers for efficiency and profitability.

Key initiatives of the program include:

  1. Building a benchmarks database that collects operational costs of boats throughout the fleet.
  2. Developing a Maximum Economic Yield (MEY) model that utilises the best available information from scientists, fishers, processors, and marketers.
  3. Generating an annual “State of the Markets” report that provides valuable insights into market conditions.


This knowledge is utilised in the following ways:

  1. Informing the Council’s advocacy and management efforts with the government, particularly in the quota-setting process, through the development and regular updates of the MEY model.
  2. Adding value to the industry by creating an interactive benchmarking tool. This tool allows industry members to compare their own operations with peers in the fleet, identifying opportunities to increase efficiencies.

By implementing these initiatives, the program aims to empower the Western Rock Lobster industry with comprehensive economic knowledge, enabling better decision-making, improved competitiveness, and sustainable growth.

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Project 2024-037

Community and Industry Outreach Program

The Western Rock Lobster Council (WRL) is committed to ensuring the long-term sustainability and resilience of the Western Rock Lobster industry through research-driven initiatives that foster deeper connections with the community and strengthen the industry’s identity. This application builds on the successes and lessons learned from two previous Communications Programs, aiming to adapt to the evolving social and economic landscape through innovative engagement strategies and data- driven insights.

The new program directly supports WRL’s Strategic Plan objective to “Ensure the social licence to operate is supported by government, community, and industry.” Through targeted research and

engagement, the program will track shifts in community perceptions, identify emerging communication needs, and refine strategies for connecting with the public. This will include conducting a new community perception survey toward the end of the program, allowing WRLC to assess long-term changes in awareness, trust, and support.

In addition, WRL will explore new methodologies for quantitative analysis to measure the success of initiatives undertaken under the program. This will enable a more precise evaluation of how effectively the program is achieving its purpose of strengthening social license and industry support, ensuring that WRL’s efforts are both measurable and impactful.

The program will also emphasise research in internal stakeholder engagement, starting with a comprehensive Member Engagement Study to understand the needs and perspectives of members, fishers, Professional Fishermen Associations (PFAs), and processors. This study will inform a targeted action plan to strengthen collaboration and co-management, providing a model that could be adapted by other fisheries.

Strategic alliances are another key focus of this program, including collaborations with educational institutions, sustainability-focused organisations, and other sectors. These partnerships will allow for the development of joint research initiatives, pilot programs, and community outreach efforts that can be scaled and applied across the broader fishing industry. The program’s findings and outcomes will be shared widely to benefit other sectors and contribute to the body of knowledge in sustainable fisheries management.

Furthermore, this program will use research to enhance the accessibility and cultural significance of Western Rock Lobster in Western Australia. It will test and refine communication strategies that can elevate the industry’s profile, integrating data-driven insights to adapt messaging to various audiences. These approaches will not only benefit WRL but also provide valuable insights for other wild-caught fisheries seeking to enhance their community engagement.

By delivering on these research and engagement priorities, this program will ensure that WRL remains well-resourced to deliver high-quality advocacy, secure resource access, and support sustainable growth, ultimately benefiting the seafood industry, its members, and the broader WA community.

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Project 2024-046

SafeFish 2025-2030

NEED
Maintaining and enhancing market access for Australian seafood in an ever-changing environment is critical for future industry growth and survival. The current geo-political landscape and impacts of our changing climate on food safety hazards exacerbates a number of the food safety risks. SafeFish makes a significant contribution to this by carrying out the following:

1. Food safety incident response. SafeFish provides industry and government with immediate technical information required to respond to incidents relating to food safety and/or market access. Subsequently, technical input is provided to update policies for prevention and response of similar incidents should they recur. Appropriate technical responses reduce the impact of food safety incidents and ensure better outcomes for all involved.

2. Technical input to inter-government consultations on food regulations and market access. It is essential for the Australian seafood industry to participate in consultations such as Codex and monitor top export destination regulatory changes through WTO SPS notifications to ensure that proposed new, or modified, regulations are pragmatic, fit for purpose and cost-effective for the Australian seafood industry. It is far easier to influence standards under development than after they have been finalised. Similarly, it is essential for the seafood industry, through coordination by SafeFish, to input into domestic regulation reviews at Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ).

3. Proactive research, risk analyses and training. The safety of Australian seafood is not negotiable in domestic and international markets. Over recent years SafeFish has conducted many activities to assist the industry anticipate and minimize food safety risks. The objective of these activities has always been to identify and mitigate risks before they cause a problem, or to grow knowledge to enable us to improve our risk management in a cost-effective manner.

OBJECTIVES

1. Deliver robust food safety research and advice to industry and regulators that underpins Australia’s reputation as a producer of safe seafood
2. Maintain and enhance the capabilities in seafood food safety in Australia
3. Implement governance and engagement of SafeFish to facilitate cost effective, efficient, and timely operations and maximise impacts
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