The Environment Award is presented to an individual, company, organisation, activity, project or event that has contributed significantly to protecting or rehabilitating fisheries environments and ecosystems, innovation and/or minimizing the industry's impact on the environment.

Winner
Northern Territory Aquatic Biosecurity and Northern Territory Government Department of Resources
Northern Territory

The Fisheries Aquatic Biosecurity unit (Department of Resources) is a small team of just three that have been successfully protecting the aquatic environments of the Northern Territory from the threats of invasive species for the past 10 years. The unit was established in the wake of the black striped mussel eradication from Darwin marines in 1999. The Territory is the only jurisdiction in Australia with ongoing vessel inspection and marine pest monitoring programs. The Fisheries Aquatic Biosecurity unit provides leadership in national policy development, particularly biofouling policy, drawing heavily on experience gained from their long established programs.

The Seafood Restaurant Award is presented to a seafood restaurant that has demonstrated excellence in consistently providing consumers with high quality Australian seafood and a positive seafood experience.

Winner
Kailis Bros Fish Cafe
Western Australia (accepted by Katie Phillis, WAFIC)

George Palasis Kailis arrived in Western Australia from a tiny Greek island of Kastellorizo and opened up a Fish and Chip shop with a fresh market in the heart of Perth. Today the Kailis Bros Fish Café in Leaderville is bringing together and representing 4 generations of history. Whilst 80 years of business may have passed, the tradition of providing only the finest seafood continues.

The Seafood Business award is presented to a seafood business involved in commercial fishing, aquaculture, processing, wholesale, export, import, retail tourism, transport or other seafood related activity that has demonstrated business growth, innovation, excellence in product, service, marketing and made a significant contribution to the future of the seafood industry.

Winner
She Sells Seafood
Victoria

She Sells Seafood is a highly innovative and high quality retailer of fresh seafood based in Castlemaine, central Victoria. From a low key start in 2004 they have progressed to a full retail shopfront with a loyal customer base and growing turnover. In the past 5 years they have developed a reputation for product range, quality, employee development and service.

The Research and Development Award is presented to an individual, company or organisation that has demonstrated excellence in research and development outcomes relevant to the sustainability or profitability of the Australian seafood industry.

Winner
Rick McGarvey
South Australia

Rick McGarvey received his early training in physics, completing a Master's degree and passing the doctoral qualifying examination at the University of Oregon. Rick completed his PhD in fisheries modeling at Dalhousie University, Canada. In 1994, he was offered a post as a fisheries modeler at SARDI (South Australian Research and Development Institute) with his initial work on rocklobster. Rick McGarvey and his research team have been instrumental in the development of a standardized rock lobster fisheries model which is currently applied to assess the major rocklobster fisheries within South Australia.

The Seafood Industry Promotion Award is presented to an individual, company, organisation, promotion activity or event that had made a substantial positive contribution towards improving the public profile of seafood and the seafood industry.

Winner
Mandurah Licensed Fishermen's Association
Western Australia (accepted by Neil MacGuffie, SeaNet)

The Mandurah Licensed Fishermen's Association represents the interests of 11 commercial fishermen who hold crab, prawn and estuarine fin fish permits and operate within the Peel and Harvey estuaries. A number of their members are 3rd and 4th generation fishers and have been providing fresh seafood products direct to the local region since the early 1860's. The association meets regularly with the aim of ensuring that all members continue to practise sustainable fishing methods, whilst operating within a safe environment and to ensure that due regard is shown for all other stakeholders within the waterways.

The Seafood Training Award is presented to an individual company, organisation, project, student, trainee, training provider, employer or employee – in recognition of excellence in seafood industry training.

Winner
Northern Territory Government Department of Resources – Fisheries Group Indigenous Development Unit
Northern Territory

Through the initiative of Aboriginal Traditional Owners of the NT, a number of community ranger programs have been established as a mechanism for Aboriginal people to actively participate in natural resource management. Their achievements include the establishment of the Indigenous Community Marine Ranger Program; employment of 14 indigenous apprentices since 2003; Implementation of Marine ranger training workshops; and the Development of Certificate II Fisheries Compliance (Seafood Industry) course.

The Seafood Industry Producer Award is presented to a producer that has demonstrated excellence in the production of high quality seafood, improved fishing/farming practices, innovation, promotion of a positive industry image and overall contribution to the industry.

Winner
Fremantle Octopus Group
Western Australia

The Fremantle Octopus Group consists of three companies each involved in the octopus fishing and processing industry. Fremantle Octopus P/L, Octopus Technologies P/L and Occoculture P/L. The company has not only created an octopus fishing industry in WA where none previously existed, but has also built a thriving manufacturing operation which cannot keep up with demand for the product. Fremantle Octopus specialises in octopus fishing and the manufacture of processed value added and raw octopus products for sale in local and interstate markets.

The Seafood Industry Icon Award is presented to an individual, company or organisation whose contribution has been judged as having made a very real and positive difference to the industry, including outstanding contributions over a sustained period of time and the establishment of positive, precedent setting outcomes that have secured a more secure future for the industry.

Winner
Rodney Treloggen
Tasmania (accepted by Neil Stump TSIC)

Rodney Treloggen began his commercial fishing in the late 1970's, joined the Professional Fishermen's Association of Tasmania in the early 80s and helped steer its transition into the Tasmanian Fishing Industry Council (TFIC) shortly afterwards, becoming the inaugural director of TFIC. In 1985 Rodney was the elected chairman of the newly formed Tasmanian Rocklobster Fishermen's Association and in 1994 became the first executive officer. Largely as a result of Rodney's relentless determination, the TRLFA is the most successful single fishery organisation in Tasmania.

Photos care of Emily Guy Photography