Today, the Blue Economy CRC has released its ambition for ‘Tasmania’s sustainable ocean economy beyond 2033’.
The Ambition offers a new approach to sustainable ocean economies and ocean stewardship for Tasmania and shows what is possible.
It includes a roadmap, a series of opportunities that centre on shared values based on what we heard from a broad range of stakeholders and consolidates best practice principles and case studies. It has considered this approach in the context of Tasmania’s finfish aquaculture industry.
The intended audience ranges from policymakers, regulators, government, industries, supply chain, retailers, interest groups, community, and research institutions.
The release of the Ambition follows the release of a Report that captures what was heard directly from stakeholders over the past 6 months as part of a series of events hosted by the BE CRC. Running parallel to the Tasmanian Government’s formal process for developing a new Salmon Plan, these independent events showed the conversation was stretching beyond just a single sector and that consideration of one sector in isolation of other ocean industries and ocean stewardship was not enough.
Dr John Whittington, CEO of the BECRC stated the Ambition outlines what good and better could look like when it comes to ocean governance.
“We are well placed to put forward such an ambition given our knowledge and experiences working with industry, researchers, government and stakeholders on new, emerging, and transitioning ocean industries and the ocean access opportunities and challenges associated with this.
“This is a long-term ambition that will take over a decade of continuous effort to fully realise.
“This sets out the opportunity to shift from a sectoral lens to a contemporary and integrated approach to oceans use and stewardship that is balanced with nature and supported by innovation.
“We acknowledge this is complex. Oceans are complex. We also acknowledge this requires a focus and investment in innovation, and that’s what we do. So, we are committed to tilt our research and tools towards achieving this. We will play our part”, he said.
BACKGROUND
- The BECEC hosted a Salmon Symposium 10 -11th May 2022, that brought together local, national and global leading aquaculture experts and practitioners and stakeholders. Cutting-edge innovation and directions in infrastructure and aquaculture operations were put on the table, along with the components of sustainable contemporary food production systems. Concerns held by some participants on impacts of salmon farming on the environment were also raised.
- The BE CRC also held a Forum in mid-August 2022 that comprised of two workshops with targeted stakeholders followed by a series of one-on-one conversations with selected stakeholders over September and October. A series of questions were asked of all stakeholders to better understand visions, aspirations, challenges, opportunities, and elements of a roadmap.
- Both the Symposium and Forum provided an opportunity to learn about contemporary sustainability and innovation trends, insights and understand critical issues, but also for stakeholders to have their say on aspirations, scrutinise trends, identify and better understand what matters. Independent and transparent processes like this can provide stakeholders an opportunity to have their say.
- The What we Heard Report sets out what was heard throughout this engagement process. The views expressed in the Report are those of the symposium and forum attendees and not of the Blue Economy CRC.
