Mussel pioneer honoured

A pioneering Marlborough Sounds marine farmer and environmentalist, who handpicked mussels off the shoreline to help pay the bills, has been honoured for a lifetime in the industry.

Havelock mussel farmer Ivan Godsiff was presented with the Marine Farming Association Merit Award, and the Port Marlborough Environment Award at the Marine Farming Association annual dinner in Blenheim.

Godsiff has been involved in mussel farming since the late 1960s in a variety of roles including research into the use of experimental spat rafts.

During the 70s, he handpicked mussels with his wife below their Nikau Bay home to supplement their income from forestry work and later skippered harvest vessels for 21 hours a day.

Retiring Marine Farming Association chairman Rob Pooley said Godsiff’s patience, calm demeanour, work ethic, honesty and loyalty was recognised by dozens of mussel industry crew who worked alongside him.

Godsiff also spent 16 years as the association’s first environmental mentor, creating ways to minimise debris created by the industry, doing and leading beach clean-ups.

‘‘He led the way for our industry in environmental awareness,’’ Pooley said.

The annual dinner also farewelled Pooley who stepped down after 16 years as president.

He has been replaced by second generation Marlborough mussel farmer Jonathan Large.

Pooley helped get the industry started 40 years ago and served on the association’s executive before becoming president in 2000.

‘‘Our industry has come a long way and still has a huge potential,’’ he said.

‘‘It’s time for some next generation leadership to ensure marine farming can continue to deliver for the Top of the South and for New Zealand.’’

Aquaculture NZ chairman Bruce Hearn said Pooley made a major contribution to the industry.

Pooley was recognised by the New Zealand oyster industry, and was a finalist in the inaugural Seafood Stars awards being run by Seafood NZ.

In other awards presented at the dinner South Island Farmers of Year John Young and Lyn Godsiff received the Donaghys Outstanding Marine Farmer Award.

The Kenepuru Sound couple started in the industry in the 1970s before expanding to join Talley’s 10 years ago.

Their company Clearwater Mussels was the country’s second biggest mussel farming operation.

It had 27 employees and exported to more than 60 countries.

Joe Donaldson, 23, of Kono Seafood, won the Aquaculture Direct Recent Entrant Award.

Donaldson started as a deckhand farming flat oysters before being promoted to farm manager and was sitting his skipper’s ticket.