Who are we

CRC Torres Strait Ltd is a not-for-profit company established to implement the Torres Strait research program which is a supplementary program of the Cooperative Research Centre for the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area (incorporated as CRC Reef Research Centre Ltd).

CRC Torres Strait Ltd is managed as a separate entity. All core participants in CRC Torres Strait (including CRC Reef Research Centre) are members of the Board of the company, which has an independent chair, Sir Sydney Schubert.

The administrative centre and registered office of CRC Torres Strait is co-located with CRC Reef Research Centre, based in Townsville. Existing CRC Reef Research Centre accounting, auditing and project management systems have been adopted for CRC Torres Strait, though administration of projects and finances are managed separately from CRC Reef Research Centre systems. CRC Reef Research Centre staff provide administrative support for the company.

The core participants in CRC Torres Strait are Australia Fisheries Management Authority, Australian Institute of Marine Science, CSIRO Marine, CRC Reef, GeoScience Australia, James Cook University, National Oceans Office (NOO), Queensland Dept of Primary Industries and the TSRA. Supporting participants include Great Barrier Reef marine Park Authority (GBRMPA), Great Barrier Reef Research Foundation (GBRRF) and Queensland Seafood Industry Association (QSIA).

In 2003, CRC Reef received support from the Commonwealth ($3 million over three years) to establish a new research, education and extension program in Torres Strait. The program brings together the main resource management agencies, research institutions and stakeholders in Torres Strait as well as the Torres Strait Regional Authority (TSRA), representing the Torres Strait community.

The participants bring substantial resources (more than $13 million over three years) to the Program as well as scientific and management expertise and are combining their efforts into a single, integrated, multi-disciplinary research, education and communication program directed towards the identified needs of stakeholders and end-users.

Their expertise derives from considerable experience in Torres Strait and the adjacent Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area.

This program offers a unique opportunity to bring efficiencies and synergies to the current research effort to improve the delivery of information needed for sustainable development of Torres Strait and peoples and to add considerably to the value of current research and extension efforts. The result is an integrated, multi-disciplinary applied program of research far beyond that which could be done previously or by any of the participants acting independently.

Research is directed in three key areas: Harvested Marine Resources, Biophysical Processes, and Marine Systems Management Evaluations and Risks. These areas respond to stakeholder and end-user priorities. Education and training will offer postgraduate scholarships as well as secondary or undergraduate and community level training for Torres Strait peoples. Training for researchers, stakeholders and communities will focus on improving the understanding and uptake of research results. Research will be conducted using culturally sensitive research protocols and procedures.