Inshore fishery alternative and innovative gears partnership

The proposal seeks FRDC's collaboration with QDAF to establish a co-managed partnership aimed at executing a programme in three stages. This initiative aims to leverage the best scientific expertise and collaboration methods, potentially using a mixed model of direct and selective tenders alongside competitive calls, including a pitch process for innovative harvest methodologies. The partnership intends to finalise a head agreement between QDAF and FRDC, securing up to $4.5 million in funding from the Queensland Government, matched dollar for dollar by FRDC, totalling up to $9 million over six years. Each investment will undergo rigorous evaluation based on FRDC's policies, focusing on scoping alternative gear types, trialling them, and subsequently implementing, accrediting, and evaluating their social and economic impacts.