2010/747 National oyster R & D – strategic R & D project commissioning, management and path to commercialisation

By Rachel King

The formation of The Oyster Consortium Ltd and its evolution into Oysters Australia Ltd (OA) was the culmination of a seven year process of increased cooperation and improved social interaction among Australia’s oyster farmers. In 2010, the Oyster Consortium was engaged in 50 projects requiring varying levels of intervention. The oyster industry's investment benefits from a co-ordinated approach to project linkages and industry communication so as to maximise return on investment. This project continued the core functions of Seafood CRC project 2007/715 but within the newly incorporated OA. The project objectives were to:

1.Manage a national strategic approach to oyster research and development that is aligned to the Business Plan.

2.Manage project development

3.Manage and implement a communications plan to keep end-users, researchers and funding agencies informed and ensure research results are rapidly and widely adopted.

4.Establish and maintain collaboration within projects for the oyster industry

5.Represent the OA at Seafood CRC core participant meetings