2006/215 Southern Rocklobster industry research and development planning, implementation and extension

By Roger Edwards

The Southern Rocklobster industry structure comprises around 700 small owner operator businesses with little or no capacity to coordinate investment in and manage industry development. Recovering lost industry value and delivering future growth is contingent upon coordinated investment in industry development at the whole of industry level. Southern Rocklobster Ltd (SRL) is now established and positioned to implement the strategic plan, and integration of research and development work across stakeholders, States, Australia and New Zealand, rock lobster subprograms, researchers and other related disciplines is now feasible under the leadership of SRL.

Two distinct needs are involved in any consideration of better national research and development co-ordination for the Southern Rocklobster sector: (1) the strategic issues of research and development prioritisation, funding and the linkages to (and support for) both industry development plans and Government objectives of industry development and (2) The operational issues of facilitating effective communication and coordination at all levels

This project aimed to:

1. Coordinate investments by funding agencies and Southern Rocklobster Ltd (SRL) to achieve the planned outcomes detailed in the SRL Strategic Plan
2. Provide a communication and extension service that complements the individual projects to facilitate adoption of outputs
3. To provide reports to FRDC and SRL Ltd that demonstrate effective management of the individual projects, and contribute to good governance