RESIDENTS with a stake in the Port's commercial fishing industry are urged to get in touch with researchers this week as they kick off a two-year study looking into coastal fishing communities.
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University of Technology, Sydney researchers Michelle Voyer and Kate Barclay are behind the Valuing Coastal Fisheries study.
The women hope to talk with fishermen and women from the area in a bid to understand the importance of commercial fishing to Port Stephens's economic and cultural prosperity.
Ms Barclay said the gap in data about the contribution commercial fishing makes to a community economically, socially and culturally was a concern given the diverse challenges it faces.
"Most of us live near the coast in Australia, yet few of us realise how much the fabric of our lives, the prosperity of our communities and even our cultural identities owe to regional fishing industries."
"We hope an outcome of the research will be that different groups within communities work together on strategies leading to prosperous, environmentally responsible and sustainable fishing industries in their region," Ms Voyer said.
Phone Ms Barclay on 0435 142 247 or Ms Voyer on 0413 945 640.