By Michelle Daw
The themes of communication, collaboration and unity ran strongly through Seafood Directions 2022, reflecting the conference motto ‘One voice, one future’.
Seafood Directions, the premier ideas, innovation and networking event for the Australian seafood industry, was presented by Seafood Industry Australia (SIA) in Brisbane from September 13-15 with support from FRDC and many industry partners.
It was the first Seafood Directions held since 2019, due to COVID restrictions in the intervening years, and the enthusiasm amongst participants to meet face-to-face with colleagues from around Australia was evident throughout the event.
The conference was a sell-out with 500 attendees and as FRDC Managing Director Dr Patrick Hone observed in his closing remarks, “the energy levels were 10/10 - it was inclusive, passionate and welcoming”.
Patrick said he was also impressed with the diversity of participants at the conference.
“The next generation of leaders in seafood is clearly here and Women in Seafood Australasia is changing the way we do business,” he said.
“It was also great to see the number of Indigenous people taking part and many came up and told me about what they want to achieve with their communities in fishing and aquaculture.”
Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Senator Murray Watt spoke to SIA Chief Executive Veronica Papacosta in a recorded interview and made an in-person appearance at the close of the conference. He reiterated his support for the seafood industry and said he intends to be a strong advocate for the industry in Federal Cabinet and in the community.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk also visited the conference and spoke about the importance of the seafood industry to Queensland.
A highlight of the conference gala dinner was the announcement of 13 new inductees to the Seafood Hall of Fame. These include former Senator, fishing industry champion and FRDC Board Chair The Hon. Ron Boswell; current FRDC Board member, industry leader and consultant Dr Chris Calogeras; Australian Fisheries Management Authority Commissioner and Chair of FRDC’s Research Advisory Committees for SA and WA, Brett McCallum.
The Hon Ron Boswell receives his Hall of Fame certificate from SIA Chair Clayton Nelson.
Chris Calogeras was inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Brett McCallum with his Hall of Fame certificate.
Winner of the Seafood Industry Awards for 2022 were also announced at the dinner. The Research, Development and Extension Award, sponsored by FRDC, was won by the Australian Council of Prawn Fisheries, with the Australian Prawn Farmers’ Association, Curtin University and Source Certain Queensland. Their winning entry was a project on behalf of FRDC to research elemental signatures to distinguish wild caught and farmed prawns and to confirm provenance claims.
Winners of a Fishers Filming Fishers competition run by SeSAFE to promote safety in commercial fishing were announced at the conference. First prize went to Angela Barnes of A & C Barnes Seafoods of Port Broughton, South Australia. Second prize was won by Luke Tugwell, skipper of the FV Pot Luck, owned by Two Gulfs Crabs of Largs North, SA and in third place was an entry submitted by the skipper and crew of FV Territory, owned by Australia Bay Seafoods, Darwin.
Dr Steve Eayrs of SeSAFE (centre) with Fishers Filming Fishers winners, Michael O’Brien of Australia Bay Seafoods (left), and Dennis Holder of Two Gulfs Crabs. Dennis also represented A & C Barnes Seafoods.
Congratulations to SIA for hosting an inclusive, innovative conference and to all on coming together to celebrate innovation and success.
The October edition of FRDC News will be themed around Seafood Directions, featuring conference presentations and articles on associated activities.
More information
- See full list of Seafood Hall of Fame inductees
- See the full list of National Seafood Industry Awards winners
- See the winning Fishers Filming Fishers videos
- See more on the winning prawn provenance project 2016-261
