The Blue Economy CRC has established a Blue Economy Zone (BEZ) Community and Offshore Ocean User Advisory Group as part of the governance model for the Bass Strait Blue Economy Zone Aquaculture Research Trial in Commonwealth Waters. The BEZ Community and Offshore Ocean User Advisory Group brings together relevant aspects of knowledge, experience and perspective from across the broader community to contribute to the delivery of the research program and Research Trial objectives.

Scope

The BEZ Community and Offshore Ocean User Advisory Group is being established for two-way communication channel between local community members and representatives and the Blue Economy CRC Project Team. It provides a regular forum for sharing information, answering questions, gaining ocean user and community perspectives, and seeking local advice.

The BEZ Community and Offshore Ocean User Advisory Group will be led by a Chair independent of any one particular sector or interests.

The Blue Economy CRC will work closely with the Chair and Group members to build greater community understanding and participation, and to seek insights and observations relevant to the Research Trial and its research objectives. The forum will deliver a schedule of deep dives into the research (i.e. site characterisation, wildlife interactions, benthic surveys, finfish welfare, precision farming etc.) and include a series of site visits as appropriate.

The Members will:

• Attend meetings;
• Receive briefings and updates from the Blue Economy CRC Project Team;
• Share questions, views and feedback raised by members of their local community at meetings;
• Provide advice on issues and opportunities raised through wider community feedback;
• Share authorised information about the project with the broader community;
• Contribute to group discussions and provide a local perspective on project issues and opportunities;
• Promote consultation activities being undertaken by the Blue Economy CRC project Team; and
• Restrict discussions to matters relevant to the Project.

The Blue Economy CRC Project Team will be responsible for:

• Providing information about the Project at and between meetings;
• Participating in discussions regarding community questions, views and feedback;
• Listening, considering and responding to feedback provided through the Advisory Group;
• Providing access to technical specialists to explain information and receive feedback; and
• Providing secretariat support to the Chair.

The Chair will be responsible for:

• Attending all meetings or delegate the role if unable to attend;
• Organise meeting agendas with the Blue Economy CRC Project Team and with input from the Advisory Group;
• Leading the Advisory Group and facilitate discussion and participation by all members;
• Presiding at all meetings and, with the support of the Blue Economy CRC Project Team;
• Receive feedback from members and the Blue Economy CRC Project Team about the Advisory Group’s purpose, functions or operation – both in and outside of meetings;
• Invite external parties to observe proceedings or address the Group, on an ad hoc basis as needed;
• Ensure discussions are relevant and within the Terms of Reference;
• Ensuring the business of the meeting proceeds effectively and efficiently;
• Reporting on insights and observations to input into the research outcomes;
• Review draft minutes for approval; and
• Managing dispute resolution, if required.

The role of the BEZ Community and Offshore Ocean User Advisory Group is to provide insights and observations that reflect the views of the Advisory Committee membership and the segments of the broader community in which they have experience and knowledge. The BEZ Community and Offshore Ocean User Advisory Group is not a decision-making committee that requires a quorum or voting right, and a diversity of opinion is encouraged. Feedback and input provided by the Community and Offshore Ocean User Advisory Group will be considered by the Blue Economy CRC Project Team throughout the study.

Key details relating to meeting operations include:

• This Community and Offshore Ocean User Advisory Group is intended to operate throughout the Research Trial’s three-year duration.
• An initial 12-month commitment from members is requested, after which time membership may be reviewed.
• Meetings will be held approximately every 3 months, at a time and location determined by the Blue Economy CRC Project Team in consultation with the Chair.
• The frequency of meetings will be reviewed regularly with input from members.
• Meetings are generally expected to run for two hours.
• The Blue Economy CRC Project Team is responsible for administration associated with the Group, including organising meetings, taking minutes, distributing agendas and liaising with members and the Chair.
• Members will be invited to nominate topics for discussion at each meeting. Topics raised will be allocated a time limit to allow appropriate discussion within the meeting timeframe.
• Issues and ideas that arise during meetings which fall outside the Terms of Reference will, where possible, be referred to the relevant authority.
• Meetings are not open to the public.
• A Code of Conduct must be signed by all members.

Membership of the BEZ Community and Offshore Ocean User Advisory Group has been filled by Expression of Interest (this process was opened to the public and also through targeted invitation to peak bodies) across representatives from diverse stakeholder groups, including but not limited to:

• Indigenous communities and traditional knowledge holders;
• Seafood Industry stakeholders e.g. fishers, farmers, seafood producers, processors, distributors, peak bodies;
• Ocean estate users;
• Local government bodies;
• Recreational stakeholders e.g. representative bodies;
• Interest Groups (i.e. environmental non-governmental organisations); and
• Local community members.

TERM

The Community and Offshore Ocean User Advisory Group and its Terms of Reference are effective from May 2025 for a period of up to December 2027 at which point the Research Trial will have reached its conclusion.

MEETINGS

The BEZ Community and Offshore Ocean User Advisory Group convenes regular meetings, predominantly virtually. All meetings will be facilitated by the Independent Chair and the Blue Economy CRC Project Team. BEZ Community and Offshore Ocean User Advisory Group meetings are to be convened approximately every quarter, with up to twelve (12) meetings between March 2025 and December 2027.

If you have any questions or would like more information about the BEZ Community and Offshore Ocean Users Advisory Group, please email Ange and Simon on oceanambition@blueeconomycrc.com.au