Not all of our community are okay – and that’s not okay.
There are over 100 Seafood Communities around Australia
Our first goal is to achieve 50 Stay Afloat Communities and up to 100 Trusted Advocates. Ultimately the program will offer support to every member of the Commercial Seafood Community across Australia through our “by industry, for industry” model.
The Trusted Advocates network is a wonderful supportive place for those who care for the wellbeing of those around them. Trusted Advocates will provide a listening ear, promote wellbeing and help guide people towards the resources available through Stay Afloat and in their local area. For more on being a Trusted Advocate – click here.
Trusted Advocates are locals who are there to support by:
- Having a chat – sometimes we all need an ear, and your trusted advocates know and understand the pressures you’re facing.
- Sharing tips on wellness and stress management;
- Helping you to connect with professional support;
- Educating your local healthcare providers on local industry challenges so they’ll understand what you’re up against if you reach out for help.
- Support our Trusted Advocate network and Focus Communities.
Attend local events and activities that foster human connection and wellbeing with the support of funding from our Community Resilience Fund.
NSW
| Bermagui, NSW | Abalone disease, access, reform |
| Merimbula, NSW | Abalone disease, access, reform, Bushfires, Offshore drilling |
| Yamba, NSW | White Spot, Historical Reform, Floods |
| Sydney, NSW | Reductions in licenses, SFM moving, aged workforce |
| Wollongong, NSW | Historical reform, large number of industry members, Oysters |
| Tathra, NSW | Historical reform, large number of industry members, Oysters Floods |
| Bateman’s Bay, NSW | Historical reform, large number of industry members, Oysters Floods |
| Ulladulla, NSW | Historical reform, large number of industry members, Large Tuna Fleet, Oysters FloodsRocky – co-op |
| Nelson Bay, NSW | Historial reform , large population, Oysters, Floods |
| Newcastle, NSW | Historial reform, oysters floods, wind farms |
| Wallis Lakes, NSW | Historial reform, oysters floods, wind farms |
| Ballina, NSW | Historial reform, oysters floods, wind farms |
| Port Macquarie, NSW | Historial reform, oysters floods, wind farms |
| Coffs Harbour, NSW | Historial reform, oysters floods, wind farms |
| Maclean, NSW | Historical reforms, intra-industry challenges, Floods Oysters |
| Eden, NSW | Historical reforms, intra-industr challenges, Abalone – industry hard to track down. Often unload in other ports. |
| Tea Gardens, NSW | Very small depot – part of Newcastle. Have had some activity already |
| Tacoma, NSW | Very small depot – part of Newcastle. Have had some activity already |
VIC
| Port Fairy, VIC | Abalone disease – historical and current |
| Port Fairy, VIC | Abalone disease – historical and current |
| Warrnambool, VIC | Abalone disease – historical and potential current |
| Apollo Bay, VIC | Abalone disease – historical and potential current |
| Melbourne, VIC | Port Phillip Bay fishery closures / reforms |
| Lakes Entrance, VIC | Gippsland Lakes fishery closure, seismic testing, bushfires |
| Mallacoota, VIC | Abalone disease, bushfires, seismic testing |
| Port Welshpool, VIC | Part of Corner Inlet fishery with Port Albert And Port Franklin. Last inshore net fishery, which makes them vulnerable to recreational conflict and there is conflict within the fishery itself. |
| Port Welshpool, VIC | Part of Corner Inlet fishery with Port Albert And Port Franklin. Last inshore net fishery, which makes them vulnerable to recreational conflict and there is conflict within the fishery itself. |
| Portland, VIC | Abalone disease, seismic testing |
| Portland, VIC | Abalone disease, seismic testing |
| Port Campbell, VIC | Quota/other reforms; Abalone disease |
| San Remo , VIC | Quota/other reforms – historical changes intra community issues |
| San Remo , VIC | Quota/other reforms – historical changes intra community issues |
| Port Albert, VIC | As per Port Welshpool |
| Port Franklin, VIC | As per Port Welshpool |
| The Bellarine (spread over a number of small towns), VIC | Historical market / industry reductions |
| The Bellarine (spread over a number of small towns), VIC | Historical market / industry reductions |
| Mornington Peninsula (also several towns), VIC | Abalone issues, Port Phillip bay reforms |
| Mornington Peninsula (also several towns), VIC | Abalone issues, Port Phillip bay reforms |
WA
| Esperance, WA | Reduction in access to marine parks. Long term uncertainty |
| Esperance, WA | Reduction in access to marine parks. Long term uncertainty |
| Esperance, WA | Reduction in access to marine parks. Long term uncertainty |
| Esperance, WA | Reduction in access to marine parks. Long term uncertainty |
| Esperance, WA | Reduction in access to marine parks. Long term uncertainty |
| Esperance, WA | Reduction in access to marine parks. Long term uncertainty |
| Esperance, WA | Reduction in access to marine parks. Long term uncertainty |
| Esperance, WA | Reduction in access to marine parks. Long term uncertainty |
| Albany, WA | Reduction in access to marine parks. Long term uncertainty |
| Denmark, WA | Reduction in access to marine parks. Long term uncertainty |
| Augusta, WA | Reduction in access to marine parks. Long term uncertainty |
| Dunsborough-Busselton, WA | Reduction in access to marine parks. Long term uncertainty. Lobster trade and COVID issues – ongoing uncertainty |
| Bunbury, WA | Reduction in access to marine parks. Long term uncertainty. Lobster trade and COVID issues – ongoing uncertainty |
| Mandurah, WA | Reduction in access to marine parks. Long term uncertainty. Lobster trade and COVID issues – ongoing uncertainty |
| Fremantle, WA | Reduction in access to marine parks. Long term uncertainty. Lobster trade and COVID issues – ongoing uncertainty |
| Cervantes, WA | Lobster trade (China / COVID). Major issues with losing access to marine park imposts on West Coast and renewable energy proposal on West coast. |
| Geraldton, WA | Lobster trade (China / COVID). Major issues with losing access to marine park imposts on West Coast and renewable energy proposal on West coast. |
| Hopetoun, WA | Loss of marine park access. Diverse license holding, but that leaves uncertainty in a range of areas. |
| Bremer Bay, WA | Loss of marine park access. Diverse license holding, but that leaves uncertainty in a range of areas. |
| Lancelin, WA | Major issues with losing access to marine park imposts on West Coast and renewable energy proposal on West coast. |
| Carnarvon, WA | Major issues with environmental variations (heatwaves), losing access to recreational fishing, marine park imposts within Shark Bay and on West Coast and renewable energy proposal on West coast. Isolated area – limited access to support |
| Exmouth, WA | Major issues with losing access to marine park imposts on West Coast and renewable energy proposal on West coast. |
| Karratha / Dampier / Point Samson, WA | Major issues with losing access to oil and gas infrastructure, seismic testing, marine park imposts on West Coast and renewable energy proposal on West coast. |
| Port Hedland, WA | Small fishing fleet – up to 5 vessels. Major issues with losing access to oil and gas infrastructure, seismic testing, marine park imposts on West Coast and renewable energy proposal on West coast. Access and support a challenge |
| Broome, WA | Major issues with losing access to oil and gas infrastructure, seismic testing, marine park imposts on West Coast and renewable energy proposal on West coast. |
| Wyndham, WA | Major issues with losing access to oil and gas infrastructure, seismic testing, marine park imposts on West Coast and renewable energy proposal on West coast. Access and support a challenge |
| Windy Harbour, WA | Small Fleet – conditions currently robust. Uncertainty around marine parks |
| Horrocks, WA | Small fishery – mainly lobster. Historical lobster issues, ongoing uncertainty in other small fisheries |
SA
| Port Macdonnell, SA | Market changes – Lobster / export, long term uncertainty, COVID, Offshore Wind farms (Renewable energy proposals) |
| Robe/Kingston/Beachport, SA | Market changes – Lobster / export, long term uncertainty, COVID, |
| Port Adelaide, SA | Historical reforms, boat / catch regulation changes, Snapper closure |
| Port Lincoln, SA | Uncertainty, large industry population, De-Salination plant proposal, |
| Coffin Bay, SA | Risks/disease to Oysters, uncertainty, Snapper closure |
| Streaky Bay, SA | Risks/disease to Oysters, uncertainty, Snapper closure |
| Meningie, SA | Uncertainty, floods, legacy river issues, uptake, Fur Seal interactions |
| Goolwa/Victor Harbor, SA | E Coli closures (SASQAP), |
| Kingscote, SA | Kangaroo Island – Fires, markets, snapper closure, Marine Parks – Inshore netting to be removed |
| Wallaroo/Port Broughton, SA | Oyster disease risk, historical reform, fires, snapper closure |
| Point Turton/Stansbury, SA | Oyster disease risk, historical reform, fires, snapper closure |
| Cowell/Arno Bay, SA | Oyster disease risk, historical reform, fires, snapper closure |
| Port Wakefield, SA | Very small port, Snapper closure |
| Port Pirie, SA | Heavy Metal Toxicity closures and restrictions (Carolyn Lewis SA Health), Snapper closure |
| Port Kenny/Venus Bay, SA | Very Small Port, Environmental volatility (La Nina – El Nino) |
| Smokey Bay, SA | Risks/disease to Oysters, uncertainty, Snapper closure |
| Ceduna, SA | Snapper Closure |
NT
| Darwin, NT | Major issues with losing access to marine park imposts in NT, Native title rights inter-tidal area, recreational fishing, environmental impacts. |
| Maningrida, NT | Small community – unknown detail |
| Elizabeth Bay/ Nhulunbuy, NT | Potential changes to Spanish mackarel, prawn markets, as well as Darwin issues. Culturally appropriate support. |
| Borroloola, NT | Small community – unknown detail |
TAS
| King Island, TAS | Historical Rock lobster, ongoing uncertainty, access to support and capacity building, increased red tape. Uncertainty around current scale fish review |
| Flinders Island, TAS | Small community – uncertainty around Marine park review and potential wind farming. Scale Fish review uncertainty. |
| Smithton, TAS | Abalone access, qouta, seismic testing |
| Stanley, TAS | Abalone access, qouta, seismic testing – very small community. Scale fish review |
| Devenport, TAS | Scallops and Abalone impacted by Seismic testing. Historical Rock lobster, ongoing uncertainty around access particularly relating to Bass Strait Marine Park review. Aquaculture buy-outs by large off-shore companies. Scale fish review |
| Launceston, TAS | Aquaculture impacts – buy-outs affecting existing employees, job security combined with poor public attitude/perception around Aquaculture practices and impacts. |
| Bridport, TAS | Rock Lobster historical issues and uncertainty, poss Marine Park review impacts to a few. Scale fish review |
| St Helens, TAS | Signficant community, rock Lobster historical issues and uncertainty, poss Marine Park review impacts to some |
| Bicheno, TAS | Scale fish reviews – current – all scale fish |
| Triabunna, TAS | Signficant community, rock Lobster historical issues and uncertainty, poss Marine Park review impacts to some |
| Dunalley, TAS | Small rock lobster community. Aquaculture impacts, scalefish reform uncertainty |
| Nubeena, TAS | Small rock lobster community. Aquaculture impacts, scalefish reform uncertainty |
| Hobart, TAS | Scale fish reform uncertainty, Aquaculture impacts – buy-outs affecting existing employees, job security combined with poor public attitude/perception around Aquaculture practices and impacts. Historical Lobster issues and ongoing uncertainty, Scallop and Abalone markets impacted by Seismic testing. |
| Strahan, TAS | Aquaculture impacts – buy-outs affecting existing employees, job security combined with poor public attitude/perception around Aquaculture practices and impacts. Rock lobster history. Scale fish reform uncertainty. |
QLD
| Mooloolaba, QLD | Reform impacts – current, export/market challenges. |
| Moreton Bay, QLD | Long term uncertainthy and reform – Great Barrier reef health, quota and sustainability in various fisheries |
| Brisbane, QLD | Long term uncertainthy and reform |
| Townsville, QLD | Historical uncertainty and reform burnout. All issues pertaining to Great Barrier Reef and Marine Parks, Spanish Mackarel quota reductions, Gillnet closure |
| Karumba, QLD | Isolation, uncertainty, lack of education, long periods at sea |
| Cairns, QLD | Historical uncertainty and reform burnout. All issues pertaining to Great Barrier Reef and Marine Parks, Spanish Mackarel quota reductions, Gillnet closure |
| Hervey Bay, QLD | Historical uncertainty and reform burnout. All issues pertaining to Great Barrier Reef and Marine Parks, Spanish Mackarel quota reductions, Gillnet closure |
| Gold Coast, QLD | Long term uncertainthy and reform, large industry population |
| Mackay, QLD | Historical uncertainty and reform burnout. All issues pertaining to Great Barrier Reef and Marine Parks, Spanish Mackarel quota reductions, Gillnet closure |
Other
| Cooktown | Historical uncertainty and reform burnout. All issues pertaining to Great Barrier Reef and Marine Parks, Spanish Mackarel quota reductions, Gillnet closure |
| Torres Strait / Thursday Island | Predominantly First Nations – potential future issues around access and business structures |
| Rockhampton | Historical uncertainty and reform burnout. All issues pertaining to Great Barrier Reef and Marine Parks, Spanish Mackarel quota reductions, Gillnet closure |
| Prosperpine | Historical uncertainty and reform burnout. All issues pertaining to Great Barrier Reef and Marine Parks, Spanish Mackarel quota reductions, Gillnet closure |
Feeling blue?
You’re not alone.
Studies have shown that people in our industry experience mental health problems at twice the base rate of the general population; and almost half of those who reported problems hadn’t reached out for help because they thought no one would understand the pressures of the industry – but, we’re here to make sure they do.
As part of the Stay Afloat Australia mental health program, we’re educating healthcare workers about the Australian seafood industry, its operations and its stressors. We’re also helping them understand the history of commercial fishing in the region by providing them with resources to learn a little more about the local industry and what the life of a fisher is like.
We know better than anyone that the pressures facing the seafood industry are unique, and the stressors facing workers can vary right down to the community you work in, the fishery in which you operate, or the farm you work on. Whether you’re a long line or estuary fisher, work in the wild catch, aquaculture or post-harvest sector, you each have challenges, and that’s even before the weather changes. Our industry is unique, and we want to ensure that people understand that.