Circular economy opportunities for fisheries and aquaculture in Australia

fish net

Photo credit: Kate Barclay

According to the World Economic Forum global adoption of circular economy principles could lead to cost savings of US$1trillion dollars per annum by 2025. According to research by the UTS Institute for Sustainable Futures circular economy in Australia could be worth AU$2 billion by 2025. 

The Fisheries Research and Development Corporation has commissioned this project to map out the state of the field of circular economy in fishing and aquaculture industries, how circular economy is developing in these sectors, at what scale do ‘closed loops’ of materials make sense, what strategies, policy mixes and incentives promote circularity, new value chains for seafood organic waste, substitution or recycling of plastics, and the co-benefits of resource efficiency and healthier aquatic ecosystems.

The project employs three main methods for data collection and analysis. First is a literature review. Second is a workshop of experts in Australian fisheries and aquaculture and circular economy, to map out what circular economy activities currently exist, potential activities and obstacles to more circularity. Third is a set of 35 semi-structured interviews with stakeholders in areas identified in the expert workshop for further investigation.

Chief investigators: 
Dr Rebecca Cunningham (UTS: Institute for Sustainable Futures)
Prof Kate Barclay (UTS)
Dr Brent Jacobs Cunningham (UTS: Institute for Sustainable Futures)
Dr Nicholas McClean (UTS)
Dr Samantha Sharpe (UTS: Institute for Sustainable Futures)

Funding body: Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC)

Project Website: 
Circular Economy Opportunities for Fisheries and Aquaculture in Australia (CEOFAA) | FRDC

Featured publication(s): 
Cunningham, R., Barclay, K., Jacobs, B., Sharpe, S., McClean, N., 2022. Circular Economy Opportunities for the Fisheries and Aquaculture Sector in Australia. Report commissioned by the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC Report 2020-078), Sydney Australia (100pp).

 

Acknowledgement of Country

UTS acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the Boorooberongal people of the Dharug Nation, the Bidiagal people and the Gamaygal people, upon whose ancestral lands our university stands. We would also like to pay respect to the Elders both past and present, acknowledging them as the traditional custodians of knowledge for these lands.