Two key documents drive the FRDC’s future strategy, operations and investment. These are the FRDC’s R&D Plan 2020–25 and FRDC’s Annual Operational Plan (AOP). both documents aim to help deliver the Fish Forever 2030 Strategy (currently in draft and will form a foundation for the Australian Government’s National Fishing Plan). Progress and achievements are detailed in each year’s annual report (AR).

The 2020–21 AOP will be the first of five that will drive the investment for the R&D Plan 2020–25. Each AOP will build on and be informed by previous investment. The proposed approach towards implementation promotes innovation aimed at growing Australia’s fishing and aquaculture sectors. This includes increasing production from the same resources and embracing principles that underpin the circular economy. Investment by the FRDC also aims to better enable the commercial fishing and aquaculture sectors to make greater contributions towards the Government’s target of agriculture being valued at $100 billion by 2030.

New R&D Plan—new focus

On 1 July 2020, the FRDC’s R&D Plan 2020–25 commenced. The Plan 2020–25 was developed through a comprehensive process of environmental scanning, consultation and analysis. The R&D Plan considers key national initiatives such as the National Marine Science Plan, the Government’s target to grow Australian agriculture to $100 billion by 2030 and a draft shared vision for all sectors of fishing and aquaculture entitled “Fish Forever: A shared 2030 vision for Australia’s fishing and aquaculture community”. It also recognises key international plans and obligations such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

The plan focuses on five R&D outcomes, supported by five enabling strategies that build capability and provide foundational support to the delivery of the outcomes.

The FRDC will continue to invest in the delivery of outputs and impacts to achieve the R&D outcomes. However, how that investment is made (procurement/selection and contracting) will be determined by the type of activity. It will focus on ensuring the highest level of probity while providing agility in responding to the ever-changing environment faced by fishing and aquaculture in Australia.

Few challenges are ever without opportunity. The focus of R&D Plan 2020–25 is to meet these challenges, respond and wherever possible capitalise on them. The FRDC will work with stakeholders to ensure existing partnership and engagement structures (such as Industry Partnership Agreements) are best able to provide the insight on priorities and assist the FRDC in responding to issues and take full advantage of opportunities when they arise.