The main forum of the network is the dedicated FishEcon website through which information can be shared by the network members. The advantage of membership will be the potential to submit material to the website and the potential to be listed in the membership area (with contact details and research interests).

Although not formally affiliated with the Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society (AARES), the network will aim to hold a meeting at the annual AARES to discuss potential network activities for the coming year. Further details of the network’s activities at the 2010 AARES are available here.

The network is initially managed as part of a Fisheries Research & Development Corporation (FRDC) funded project aimed at developing fisheries economics capability in Australia. The FRDC Building Capability in Fisheries Economics Project consists of a suite of initiatives aimed at developing human capital in the understanding, knowledge and skills required to apply sound economic principles to the way in which marine resources are allocated, managed and used.  This is done by:
    • increasing the supply of university graduates with research training in fisheries economics;
    • improving the economic literacy of marine resource managers, researchers and users; and by
    • improving communication and collaboration amongst fisheries economists, and between fisheries economists, researchers from other disciplines and fisheries stakeholders.

The project consists of three components:
    1. Fisheries Economics Graduate Research Training (GRT) Program
    2. Fisheries Economics Professional Training (PT) Program
    3. Australian Fisheries Economics Network, or FishEcon

The project is supported by the FRDC’s People Development Program and is led by a project team from the University of Tasmania, the University of Adelaide, the Queensland University of Technology and CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research.  A Steering Committee representing a broad range of stakeholder interests including government, industry and recreational fishers provides advice to the project team and oversees project implementation.