The Trawl Network (Fishing Innovation) is an online Community of Practice developed in collaboration with members of the commercial trawl fishing industry. This initiative is supported by funding from the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation on behalf of the Australian Government.

Purpose and Values

As described in the following mission statement:

“Working together with fishers and others to create resilient and future-proofed trawl fisheries, based on activity consistent with the principles and vision of sustainable development”

Trawl Network Objectives

• To establish a network that promotes information exchange and purposeful engagement among trawl fishers and other stakeholders
• To create a collaborative platform to share technological innovations and best practices for sustainable development
• To foster collaboration and shared learning around technological innovations, inspiring collective action towards fishing practices that enhance industry resilience and future-proof trawl fisheries

Trawl Network Design 

The Trawl Network is for fishers and other stakeholders interested in technological developments and latest developments to improve the outcomes of trawl fishing activity. It is also designed to foster innovation, enable the sustainable development of trawl fisheries, and produce benefits that are highly valued by society. The Network will achieve this by providing a platform designed to:

• Inspire information exchange, collaboration, and strategic decision-making between trawl fishers and stakeholders, thereby boosting social capital and inspiring action to improve resilience and future-proof trawl fisheries
• Stimulate the development of trawl catching systems that produce healthy seafood with reduced environmental impact to the extent practicable, and improved data outputs for catch analysis and ecosystem monitoring
• Inspire improvements in onboard working and living conditions to encourage crew retention and increase the attractiveness of trawling as an occupation
• Increase stakeholder sensitivity to challenges and issues faced by trawl fishers and grow their appreciation of fisher knowledge, experience, and perspectives

What’s in this for me?

I am a trawl fisher, why should I engage in this network?

The Trawl Network has been designed to provide you an opportunity to engage with other trawl fishers and other individuals and access and/or share information, and develop your ideas in a safe and welcoming space, thereby encouraging innovation, fostering resilience-building, and helping to future proof the trawl industry.

I am a researcher, why should I engage?

The Trawl Network provides you an opportunity to engage with trawl fishers in a safe space, learn about their ideas to innovate, share information and provide insight, and explore opportunities for working together to innovate, build resilience and help future-proof the trawl industry.

I am a fisheries manager, why should I engage?

The Trawl Network provides you an opportunity to engage with trawl fishers in a safe space, learn about their ideas to innovate, share information and provide insight, particularly regarding regulations or limits on their ideas to innovate, and explore opportunities for collaboration.

I care about the marine environment, why should I engage?

The Trawl Network provides you an opportunity to engage with trawl fishers in a safe space, learn about their ideas to innovate, particularly those designed to further reduce unintended environmental impacts. Furthermore, it provides a safe/constructive space to build greater understanding of shared values and highlight collaborative opportunities to innovate.

Thoughts? Get in touch through our Ask The Community portal!