Minister applauds seafood industry award winners

Fisheries Minister Norman Moore tonight recognised the winners of the 2010 Western Australian Seafood Industry Awards.

At an official function hosted by the WA Fishing Industry Council at the Swan Yacht Club, Mr Moore paid tribute to outstanding achievements across the seafood industry.

Nominations for the awards were received earlier this year and the winners selected by a panel of judges:  West Australian columnist Paul Murray, ABC Radio's Eoin Cameron and Stephen Hood from MG Kailis.

Mr Moore said the winners in each category would proceed to the National Seafood Industry Awards - to run in conjunction with the Australian Seafood Industry National Conference 'Seafood Directions' in Melbourne on April 15.

"WA's seafood industry, with its goods, services and associated hospitality spin-offs, is conservatively estimated to be worth $1billion annually," he said.

"I believe it entirely appropriate that we have awards which acknowledge the expertise and excellence of those involved in this very important part of WA's lifestyle."

WAFIC chief executive office Anna Cronin praised the standard of the entrants in this year's competition.

"WA's seafood industry has an international reputation as one of the world's best," Ms Cronin said.

The winners are as follows:

Seafood Restaurant Award:  Kailis Bros Fish Cafe

Seafood Business Award:  Catalano's Seafood Secrets

Commended:  Exmouth Fish Co

Seafood Industry Producer Award:  Fremantle Octopus Group

Research and Development Award (sponsored by the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation):  Members of the South Coast Purse Seine Fishery

Seafood Industry Promotion Award:  Mandurah Licensed Fishermen's Association

Environment Award (sponsored by OceanWatch Australia): Aquaculture Development Unit, Challenger Institute of Technology.

Commended: Paul Benson,President of the South Coast Licensed Fishermen's Association and a member of the South Coast Estuarine Fishery.

Seafood Training Award:  The Fishing School

Seafood Industry Icon Award:  Eric Barker, an employee of the WA Department of Fisheries who has worked in the Research Division since 1963 and is a vital part of the team researching the biology and population dynamics of the Western Rock lobster.