Seafood Industry Australia: Strategic & Financial Partnership with FRDC

Executive Summary

Building a Structured National Industry: Research Partnership for Australia’s Seafood Sector

Drawing on GSA’s experience in industry-research partnership models—particularly the successful MLA–ALFA structure—this project delivered:

• A strategic review of SIA, FRDC and government priorities, identifying shared goals and current gaps in funding, governance, and accountability.

• A proposed industry-driven partnership model giving SIA clear oversight of levy-funded research, transparency in investment decisions, and stronger alignment with industry needs.

• A formal governance framework, including a Joint Advisory Board, structured service-level agreements, and co-investment pathways.

• A staged implementation roadmap covering immediate actions, medium-term development, and long-term partnership consolidation.

• Integration of existing successful initiatives, such as Futures of Seafood and Climate Resilient Wild Catch Fisheries, into a structured and sustainably funded model.

Key Outcomes

The resulting framework provides the seafood industry with a long-term, coherent, and accountable partnership structure, ensuring levy investment delivers maximum value to members and strengthens Australia’s position in sustainable seafood production.