Indigenous fisheries: weaving the research net

The Marine, Antarctic and Maritime Research Theme: Oceanic Cultures and Connections, University of Tasmania, was established with a view to developing research linkages across multiple disciplines at University of Tasmania, including marine environment industry and community partners. A recent call in May 2017 for Seed Grant applications asked for submissions that could help, among other things, improve Indigenous engagement, participation and leadership in research as well as promote HASS-STEM collaborations.An application was submitted by Indigenous Project Leaders, Dr Jennifer Evans, Institute of Regional Development, and Emma Lee, Centre for Marine Socioecology, to investigate the characterisation of Indigenous Tasmanian fisheries through the production of a research framework with key partners, including Centre for Social Impact, Swinburne University; Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment; CSIRO; Fisheries Research & Development Corporation; Institute of Marine and Antarctic Studies; Institute of Regional Development and Centre for Marine Socio-ecology.

There were two main objectives to the seed grant application, including:

• greater Indigenous inclusion to assist in setting priorities in research and collaboration development for Indigenous fisheries in Tasmania; and • how Indigenous peoples, knowledges and research activity might best interact and how those interactions can be incorporated across research disciplines in mutually beneficial ways.