Environment Awards

NATIONAL AWARD WINNERS

Following the State award, SFA took out the National Environment Award sponsored by the Sydney fish Market, at the Gold Coast in October 2011.

Glen Hill, Garry HeraSingh, Prof Mehdi Doroudi, Tracy Hill pictured at the Australian Seafood Industry Awards

 

LAKES AND COORONG FISHERY AWARD WINNERS

Local fishing industry group, the Southern Fishermens Association (SFA), took out the prestigious award at a glittering awards ceremony in Pt. Lincoln on Saturday night.

The South Australian Womens Industry network hosts the SA Seafood Industry Awards every two years.   The Minister for Fisheries, Michael O’Brien opened the 2011 awards and the 115 guests from all facets of the seafood industry enjoyed a three course dinner featuring the local seafood.  

Seafood for the Future - Environment award

Garry Hera-Singh president of SFA accepted the ‘Seafood for the Future – Environment Award’ sponsored by Sustainable Focus, from Brad Warren of Ocean watch. 

Judges were impressed with the association’s proactive approach during the recent “one in a hundred year drought”.  The fish down of Lake Albert where 16 local fishermen co-ordinated their efforts to remove over 100 tonnes of carp in three weeks was innovative and provided good information to the government and scientists about how to deal with the carp left stranded by the construction of the bund.

The association also wrote a Barrage Management document describing how tho gain the maximum ecological benefit to the Coorong with the freshwater releases from the barrages. This has been supplied to SA Water, DENR, SARDI, Murray Basin Authority and the relevant Ministers.

SFA members also work hard for the health of the river system in South Australia.  Some of the activities include working with conservation groups, representation on numerous committees, hosting politicians and others visiting the region and trips to Canberra to lobby for sufficient environmental flows for the River Murray to benefit the whole Lakes, Coorong and Murray Mouth area.

“This all happened during a time when many fishermen were deeply concerned about the future of their businesses and families future.  The fishing industry is important to the local community and region however it is totally reliant on a healthy ecosystem” stated Garry.   “We have been at the forefront of initiatives to redress environmental degradation for over 20 years and we will continue fighting for the environment.”

Garry thanked his SFA committee, the Coorong Council (in particular the Lower Lakes and Coorong Infrastructure Committee), Alexandrina Council and the local community for their support over this difficult period.