Every day around 26,000 people go to work on vessels, work in processing plants, deliver our products to their markets and sell to consumers here and around the globe. Together they contribute to a $1.7 billion export industry – one of the country’s top overseas earners.
Attendees at this year’s New Zealand Federation of Commercial Fishermen’s annual conference in Christchurch earlier this month are at the sharp end of our industry. For many there, fishing’s in their blood. Their families have been in the industry for generations. They take pride in the work they do and they want to make sure there will be plenty of fish there for the generations to come.
They are the likes of young Coromandel fisher Adam Clow, who is committed to mitigating the risks to seabirds from fishing, or Donna Wells, the Nelson-based quota broker and seafood exporter who has been singled out for leadership development.
It’s been hard seeing the integrity of such people attacked through the media over the past month by those with a political agenda. This orchestrated campaign by the German environmental organisation NABU and now Greenpeace to discredit the seafood industry was sparked by the highly politicised catch reconstruction report out of Auckland University’s Business School.
Despite the picture our detractors may be trying to paint, we know our industry is made up of dedicated, innovative, hard-working and environmentally conscious people committed to sustainable fishing.
It’s high time we celebrated that.
This year for the first time, we will be awarding our “seafood stars” at Seafood New Zealand’s annual conference on Wellington on August 31.
The Seafood Stars Awards have been introduced as part of the industry’s celebrations to mark the 30th anniversary of the Quota Management System. And yes, there is a lot to celebrate. The system has served us well although it could always be improved, not least in relation to discarding and deemed values.
The awards cover the broad spectrum of the industry and will be presented to individuals who have made a significant contribution in the following categories:
• Star of the Sea, Sustainability Award – For excellence in either developing and leading an activity that has contributed substantially towards protecting or rehabilitating aquatic environments, or reducing adverse seafood industry impacts on the environment, or developing and leading a research, development and extension activity that has contributed substantially towards a sustainable and profitable seafood industry.
• Seafood Star, Young Achiever Award – For young achiever (under 35 years of age) who has made a positive difference to the seafood industry, and has the potential to continue to develop as an effective and respected seafood industry leader.
• Seafood Star, Longstanding Service Award – Individual award for demonstrating that he or she has made a substantial positive difference to the seafood industry over many years, and who has been a highly effective and respected seafood industry leader.
There are many “seafood stars” across our diverse businesses and enterprises. Please help give them their due by putting their names forward.
Click here to download a form, and email us your nominations on [email protected] or post them to Seafood Stars Awards, c/o Seafood New Zealand, PO Box 297, Wellington 6140.
Nominations close July 31, 2016.
