The people of Port Stephens have long known about the importance of the vast waterways to tourism and the fishing/seafood industry, now they have the scientific backing to prove it.
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Meeting for the first time in more than five years, the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC) board of directors gathered in Port Stephens on April 16-17 to meet with industry and research leaders to discuss challenges around oyster, prawn and aquaculture farming, in addition to the value of recreational, commercial and indigenous fishing sectors.
Marine scientist FRDC general manager Patrick Hone said that the two-day summit was centred around the Department of Primary Industries Fisheries facility in Taylors Beach and included visits to, and collaboration with, the Nelson Bay Fish Market (Co-op), Port oyster growers, tourism workers, restaurant owners and the indigenous communities.
"It was important for our researchers to visit and discuss the investment in research, development and community education that has been undertaken to show how its benefits to industry," he said.
"We are a major financial backer in the NSW aquatic industry, providing scientific evidence to governments, recreational, commercial and indigenous fishers around providing environmental and biodiverse solutions."
Mr Hone said that there was much to like around the Port Stephens seafood and aquatic sectors. "One of the many success stories are the Port's Sydney rock oyster growers who are reporting healthy stocks in an expanding industry due to the growing demand."
"Likewise, the team behind the Nelson Bay fish market continues to produce quality stock for the retail industry ... a retail venue I would like to showcase right across the country.
"Then there are the restaurants and chefs preparing some of the best quality seafood meals and demonstrating just how much of an integral part the seafood tourism trade plays in the Port Stephens economy.
"We also met with indigenous representatives to discuss the importance of some of the world's oldest hunting methods and the strategies that could be identified in future job opportunities."
Mr Hone said that more work was needed in the future investment in areas such as aquaculture expansion, research around fish habitats and threats to the biosecurity of estuaries and in the impact of land based activities such as pollutants, PFAS, etc.
FRDC chair Ron Boswell said they had invested almost $12 million into fisheries research and development projects in NSW over the past three years.
