NORTH QUEENSLANDCOMMERCIAL SEAFOOD INDUSTRY

Strong – Innovative - Profitable

The QSIA North Queensland Commercial Seafood Industry Project, funded by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Fishing Community Assistance package will focus on establishing networks between fishermen and retailers/restaurants, to market and sell local seafood products. This will enable fisherman to branch into local markets and promote economic development of the local fishing industry. The Project involves maintaining those remaining supply chains and establishing new marketing initiatives in the Cairns region. The Project has employed a full-time staff member in Cairns for 18 months to facilitate and implement the Project as well as employing a part-time training officer to develop education modules to create greater awareness about the fishing industry in the local area. The Project will establish networks and education that will drive the demand for local seafood in the Cairns regions and as a result maintain the profitability of the fishing sector and all other sectors in Cairns and the greater region that rely on the seafood industry.

The seafood industry in North Queensland is sustainable through strong recognition by locals and tourists for the quality and value for money of its seafood products.

Mission

Assist the industry by promoting the seafood, the fisherman and the industry to locals, tourists and the Australian consumer and educating consumers about our fantastic local seafood products.

Objectives of the Project

The Project aims include the following:

To encourage greater uptake of local seafood products in local markets, retail stores and restaurants by establishing networks that allow fisherman to branch into local markets

• To promote the continued economic development of the seafood industry in the Cairns region
• Create additional jobs to replace the jobs lost through the Great Barrier Reef Structural Adjustment Package
• Create a ‘Regional Brand’ for the Cairns area that markets Queensland seafood
• Provide training in seafood knowledge for restaurant and retail staff which educates the community and visitors to about the local seafood
• Offer alternative marketing strategies to the sector to promote locally caught seafood to locals and tourists who want local wild caught Queensland seafood.

Through consistent consultation with the industry, steering committee meetings and professional consultation, a marketing strategy including branding, advertising and promotional campaign will be developed and rolled out in the Cairns region during 2008-2009.

For further information please contact Nola Craig (Project Manager) on 0409 593 958 or nolac@bigpond.com or Shirley Wicks (Seafood Training Officer) on 0418 723 900 or trinity.seafoods@bigpond.com