Fisheries Research and Development Corporation

The Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC) is a co-funded partnership between the Australian Government and the fishing industry. It was formed as a statutory corporation in 1991, under the Primary Industries Research and Development Act 1989 (PIRD Act) and is responsible to the Minister for Agriculture. FRDC aims to ensure, on behalf of the Australian Government, that research is undertaken to assist in the management of the fisheries and aquaculture resource for ongoing sustainability. FRDC's plans and invests in fisheries priority research, development and extension (RD&E) activities in Australia. FRDC coordinates Government and industry investment, including stakeholders, to establish and address RD&E priorities. It provides leadership and facilitates the dissemination, extension and commercialisation of RD&E outcomes. FRDC also monitors and evaluates the adoption of RD&E to inform future decisions. FRDC receives funding from the Australian Government and contributions revenue from the Commonwealth and state-based fisheries. A significant proportion of funding is directed at research to benefit the three fishing industry sectors: commercial (wild catch and aquaculture), recreational and indigenous. Research that delivers a public good benefit to the Australian community is also a priority.