It is that time of year again with the AFMA Research Committee (ARC) making its annual public call for expressions of interest to address research priorities for potential AFMA funding in 2015-16.
The committee takes a leading role in determining research priorities and assessing proposals for funding by AFMA each year.
The committee met on 16 October 2014 to consider fishery-specific research priorities identified by individual fisheries resource assessment groups (RAGs) and management advisory committees (MACs), following a review of their fisheries’ five year strategic plans and development of their annual research plans.
The research priorities relate to essential research needs such as stock assessments and fishery independent surveys for Commonwealth fisheries. This research will provide the information required to monitor the status of target species and set sustainable total allowable catches.
Key information on ARC’s 2015 call for research, including relevant scopes, is available on the call for research page on AFMA’s website and a wide range of research providers will be notified of the 2015 call for research.
Applicants should submit their expressions of interest to Research.Secretary@afma.gov.au by 31 January 2015 using the AFMA Research Committee expression of interest application form (Word, 33 KB).
AFMA will seek MAC and RAG comments on initial applications received prior to the ARC’s March 2015 meeting where initial applications will be assessed.
Applicants will be notified of the outcomes of ARC’s consideration of their research proposals in late March 2015 with successful applicants required to submit a full proposal by April 2015 for final ARC endorsement.
For additional information or queries in relation to the above, please contact the Research Secretary on 02 6225 5472 or via email at Research.Secretary@afma.gov.au.