Dave Kellian (download photo) won the Seafood Innovations - Sustainability Award at the inaugural Seafood Star Awards at a function in Wellington tonight.

Dave Kellian has been a fisherman for more than 30 years. Dave skippers his own 20m vessel, longlining for southern bluefin, bigeye and yellowfin tuna. Over the years he's fished in New Zealand, Australia and South Africa using a wide range of fishing techniques.

Dave Kellian’s concern for the environment and the impact of commercial fishing practices on it, particularly seabird populations, led to the design and development of seabird mitigation solutions. He has worked as a liaison officer, spreading the word of "seabird smart fishing” practices to fellow fishermen and has served on the management committee of the Southern Seabird Solutions Trust since 2002.

His outstanding leadership in the field of conservation and the environment was recognised by receiving the New Zealand Green Ribbon Award in 2004. Dave Kellian’s outstanding service was recognised offshore last year at the Sea Web Summit in New Orleans where he was a finalist in the innovation category.

He was recognised by his peers earlier this year at the New Zealand Federation of Commercial Fishermen’s Conference when he received the Electronic Navigation Shield for his “seabird smart” work.

The Seafood Star Awards are part of the industry’s celebrations to mark the 30th anniversary of the fisheries Quota Management System with awards for excellence and innovation within the industry.

“Every day in fishing communities around the country thousands of people go to work to contributeto our $1.8 billion export industry whether it’s putting to sea in our inshore fisheries, working away from home in our deepwater fisheries, working on salmon and mussel farms, or onshore processing and marketing our products,” says Chief Executive Tim Pankhurst.

“The awards reward innovation and excellence within our industry and recognise the contribution our diverse workforce makes to this important industry and their commitment to its ongoing sustainability.

“There are thousands of stars in our industry. Tonight we are recognising five of them.”

In addition to the Seafood Innovations - Sustainability Award, the following awards were made:

Longstanding Service Award:

•    Doug Saunders-Loder (Motueka)

•    Rob Pooley (Marlborough)

Young Achiever Award:

•    Adam Clow (Whitianga)

•    Te Tane Trinick (Queenstown)