Snapper science program
The Snapper Science Program is a three-year, $5 million initiative to address key research priorities that are relevant to Snapper fisheries throughout Australia, but with a focus on South Australia.
This initiative brings together industry stakeholders and researchers from various institutes and universities throughout southern Australia.
Information gathered through this program will improve the understanding of Snapper biology and contribute to improved assessment of Snapper fisheries which will underpin future fishery management strategies.
Research themes and projects
The Snapper Science Program includes 12 projects that are grouped into 3 research themes to address key priorities for Snapper including:
- recruitment variability
- population biology
- stock structure
- estimates of fishable biomass.
SARDI will deliver the:
- next Snapper Stock Assessment Report in November 2025 which will inform the review of current fishery closures and support fisheries management decisions
- Snapper Science Program by June 2026.
Find out more about key program dates.
Program governance
Governance structure of the Snapper Science Program involves:
- A Steering Committee that is responsible for overseeing the program to make sure it remains on track in delivering key objectives. The Steering Committee includes representatives from PIRSA, SARDI and FRDC.
- A Snapper Science Stakeholder Group (SSSG) that is responsible for conveying stakeholder feedback to researchers at meetings so that critical stakeholder input is captured. It also provides the stakeholder groups they represent with research updates following each meeting.
- A technical science group, consisting of an internal working group of researchers who will meet to plan and establish project tasks, conduct the research, collect and analyse data, and deliver research outcomes.
About program funding and researchers
The Snapper Science Program is led by the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI) and co-funded by the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC) and the Government of South Australia.
Research partners include Flinders University, the University of Adelaide, CSIRO, Western Australia Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, University of Tasmania, and the Victorian Fisheries Authority.
