- WA Seafood Industry Awards recognise excellence, sustainability
and innovation
- Science is key to supporting the sustainability of WA
fisheries
- The Department of Primary Industries and Regional
Development recognised for aquaculture
feed and parasite management research
Fisheries Minister Don Punch has congratulated the
winners from last night's Western Australian Seafood Industry Awards, celebrating
excellence,
sustainability and innovation in the WA seafood industry.
The awards - hosted by the WA Fishing Industry Council (WAFIC) - provided
a fantastic opportunity to profile science and innovation which is vital to
maintaining sustainable commercial fisheries.
The Department of
Primary Industries and Regional Development's (DPIRD) Fremantle Marine Fish Hatchery team was among the
winners, receiving the Research
Development andExtension Award.
DPIRD's research is helping address critical challenges within the seafood
industry in the development of sustainable aquaculture feeds and effective
parasite management in collaboration with industry.
The work is focussed on developing single
cell protein-based feeds, contributing to the long-term sustainability and profitability
of the sector by producing fish meal free diets and reducing reliance on
wild-caught fish.
Pioneering research at the hatchery into parasite
management was also featured for improving the palatability and efficacy of
parasite treatments in the aquaculture industry, contributing to the
advancement of fish welfare and sustainable fish farming practices.
For more information about the full list of
winners, visit the WAFIC website: https://www.wafic.org.au/
Comments attributed to Fisheries Minister Don Punch:
"It was great to see the State's seafood businesses, researchers, commercial
fishers and industry leaders recognised at last night's WA Seafood Industry
Awards.
"WA's seafood industry is important to our State, generating more than a
billion dollars a year in economic impact and employing more than 6,000 people
across range of areas from fishing and processing to marine science and
transport.
"The sustainability of our fisheries is underpinned by world class science,
research and innovation. I congratulate theDepartment
of Primary Industries and Regional Development's Fremantle Marine Fish Hatchery team for their great work
setting new benchmarks for the seafood industry in aquafeed development and
parasite management.
"I commend and thank the entire industry for your contribution to making
the WA seafood industry what it is today – a world leader in sustainable
fisheries, a major contributor to the WA economy and a sector that supports
thousands of jobs."
2024 WA Seafood Industry Award Winners
