The Western Rock Lobster industry is undergoing a transformative digital evolution designed to deliver lasting benefits to fishers, government, industry, and local communities alike.
For fishers, innovative tools like AI-driven planning, digital logbooks, and real-time data sharing facilitates greater data-driven decision-making, more dynamic quota management, streamlined compliance, and improved safety, resulting in stronger and more sustainable businesses and livelihoods. The industry as a whole gains from improved traceability and provenance systems that enhance the Western Rock Lobster’s competitive advantages and premium reputation, strengthening trade resilience amid shifting consumer preferences and geopolitical challenges.

Government agencies benefit from real-time data, including enhanced environmental monitoring and science-driven decision-making capabilities that enable adaptive ecosystem-based aquatic resource management and transparent regulation, safeguarding marine resources for future generations.

This session, presented by Data Analyst Chris King, will offer an overview of the Western Rock Lobster Council’s Industry Digital Strategy and discuss the crucial role data and its collection contributes towards the successful implementation of various key initiatives. Before diving deeper into one specific example, WRLs recent project to join the IMOS Fishing Vessels as Ships of Opportunity Program (FishSOOP) to collect subsurface temperature data off the WA coast.

Attendees will gain insight into how this collaborative approach creates shared value for fishers, government, industry, and communities—ensuring the long-term prosperity, sustainability, and social fabric of the Western Rock Lobster fishery for generations to come.

Biography:

Chris has a background in business intelligence (BI) and data warehousing across numerous organisations and sectors including Western Power, WesTrac, Chevron, Monadelphous Engineering & St John WA. Chris holds a degree in Science (Software Engineering) from Edith Cowan University and a Master of Business Administration from Curtin University.

As Data Analyst, Chris provides data management, analysis and reporting support for a variety WRL activities including the Understanding the Markets and Industry Digital Strategy programmes.