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FRDC acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples as the Traditional Custodians of land, sea and sky, recognising their deep, enduring connection to these places.

As we move further into 2026, it is encouraging to see Australia’s seafood sector moving towards greater transparency in the supply chain with Country of Origin Labeling commencing this year. You can find out more information below in our Briefly section and view a story featured on Landline here.

Recent announcements in the Federal Budget relating to fuel security reinforce the importance of resilient domestic food production and the critical role commercial fishing and aquaculture play in Australia’s economic and national security landscape. FRDC is working closely with Seafood Industry Australia to explore the potential for development of modeling tools to support Industry decision making and to keep Governments informed.
 
This month FRDC hosted an international conference in Cairns in collaboration with the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) and the UN Food and Agriculture Organistion (FAO) focused on Fishing Technology and Fish Behaviour. The Conference brought together over 100 fisheries scientists and industry leaders from more than 30 countries to showcase innovation and collaboration in fishing technology and fish behaviour research. 
 
At the same time, FRDC’s Two4Life initiative continues to build awareness of the health benefits of seafood consumption, helping reinforce the value of seafood as part of a healthy lifestyle and connecting Australian consumers with our world-class industry. 

Enjoy this month’s edition of FRDC News, where we introduce our fantastic FishTank researchers, explore how Australian seafood is expanding into growing international markets, how alternative proteins may benefit the seafood sector, and how refreshed national fishing guidelines are helping all sectors make more informed decisions. 

We also take a closer look at one of Australia’s favourite fish species, the Eastern School Whiting (Sillago flindersi), along with an update on the oxygenation trial in Macquarie Harbour, which continues to deliver promising results. 

FRDC is thrilled to unveil a stellar lineup of research partners at FishTank, an interactive session for research presentations at Seafood Directions 2026.

If you’ve ever ordered crumbed whiting at your local pub, chances are it was an Eastern School Whiting (Sillago flindersi), a small fish that quietly supports one of south-eastern Australia’s most important fisheries.

An FRDC-funded study has found that alternative proteins may present more opportunity than threat for Australia’s seafood sector.

Australia exports a significant proportion of the food it produces. Now, a cross-sector collaboration program is helping ensure the world’s fastest-growing markets understand where that food comes from and the quality, sustainability and trust behind it.

A national refresh of Australia’s fishery harvest strategy guidelines is helping all sectors make smarter, clearer and more consistent management decisions.

Partner story

New research from Macquarie Harbour shows that oxygen can be added to low-oxygen waters at depth without adverse environmental impacts.

• Bones, guts and genetics key to plentiful (mangrove jack) fish in the sea
• Banana prawn season cut short for major operator due to strong catch numbers 

Country of Origin Labelling – changes from 1 July 2026

Australia imports about 64% of all seafood consumed, but many seafood consumers don’t know the origin of the seafood they have purchased. On 1 July, new seafood country of origin labeling (CoOL) laws will require all Australian hospitality businesses to label all seafood prepared for sale as either Australian (A), Imported (I) or Mixed origin (M) in all restaurants, cafes, clubs and food outlets, whether the food is consumed on the premises, as take away or for home delivery.

These changes will make it easier for consumers to decide whether to choose dishes that contain Australian, imported or mixed origin sources of seafood. It will also create a more level playing field for Australian seafood industries and businesses, who are held to the highest environmental standards and recognised globally for operating at the forefront of worlds best practice, while imported seafood is often not regulated to the same standards.

Click here watch the recent ABC Landline story.

To check if labelling applies to your business and how to comply with the law, see business.gov.au.

AgriFutures Horizon Scholarship  

Congratulations to Michael Tolhurst Peden (The University of Sydney) and Ella Haack (James Cook University) on being selected for the 2026 AgriFutures Horizon Scholarship cohort, supported by FRDC. 

The Horizon Scholarship supports high-achieving students in the final years of their degrees, helping build the next generation of leaders across Australian agriculture and related sectors, including aquaculture and fisheries. Scholars gain industry experience, mentoring, professional development, and direct connections with industry to support long-term capability and innovation. 

This year’s cohort reflects the depth and diversity of Australia’s rural industries, and we warmly acknowledge Michael and Ella’s inclusion into this competitive national program. 

Tickets are selling fast for Australia’s premier seafood industry event. Don’t miss your opportunity to explore how we can respond to evolving consumer expectations, harness emerging technologies, build a resilient workforce and safeguard long-term access to resources.

Get your tickets and find out more information: seafooddirections.com.au

The following project were completed in April 2026

2025-034 NPF Sawfish Mitigation Workshop

2023-179 Community Trust in Rural Industries 2022-2025 - Joint RDC initiative

2023-132 Capability and Capacity: Navigating leadership pathways in fishing and aquaculture

2023-126  Environment Social Governance (ESG) framework plan for fisheries and aquaculture

2023-087 Macquarie Harbour oxygenation trial

2021-063 Future Proofing Australia’s Tuna Industry: Integrating community quota, product supply, product innovation and market diversification

2021-024 Development of an Indigenous Engagement Strategy for fishing interests with a focus on Commonwealth fisheries

2019-046 Cost-effective, non-destructive solutions to developing a pre-recruit index for Snapper

2019-044 Quantifying post-release survival and movement of Snapper (Chrysophrys auratus): Informing strategies to engage the fishing community in practices to enhance the sustainability of an important multi-sector fishery

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