Collaboration is Key
The National Centrostephanus Taskforce was established in February 2023 to develop a regional control initiative. Party to the Taskforce are the three state fisheries agencies, Tasmania, Victoria and New South Wales, together with CSIRO, and the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC).
Working together, the Taskforce developed a National Business Plan advocating for $55 million to manage, research and commercialise Centro across the Great Southern Reef. The Taskforce consulted and engaged with over 30 national stakeholders from multiple sectors including industry, recreational divers, Indigenous Sea Country stewards, non-governmental organisations, and private enterprise groups.
The Business Plan was released in October 2023 when it was submitted to the Senate Inquiry into Climate-Related Marine Invasive Species, The Senate Inquiry recommended immediate national investment by the Australian Government. To date, no commitment has been forthcoming and the Taskforce continues to advocate for Commonwealth support.
Longspined Sea Urchin National Business Plan (PDF 1Mb)
National Centro Workshops
In February 2023 and again in October 2024, National Centro Workshops have been held to bring together stakeholders from across the three states impacted by Centro. Participants have included government regulators, leading researchers, cultural leaders of Sea Country, commercial industry members from throughout the diving, processing, and export sectors, as well as recreational fishers. Collaboration across states and sectors is key to effective mitigation or Centro range-extension and over-population. Read the workshop outcomes below.
Final report - 2024 National Centro Workshop (PDF 17Mb)
Final Report - 2023 National Centrostephanus Workshop (PDF 12Mb)
The inaugural National Centro Workshop in 2023, convened by NRE Tas in Launceston.