Nelson shines as seafood industry honours its stars
The finest kind of fishing personalities, including Nelsonians, were given their dues by the industry they serve this week.
The third annual Seafood Stars Awards were presented at the Seafood Industry conference at Te Papa on Thursday.
Seafood New Zealand chief executive Tim Pankhurst said the quality of the nominations was superb.
Recognising over a quarter of a century of service to the industry, Donna Wells of Nelson-based seafood quota brokers FinestKind was one of four recipients of the Longstanding Service Award.
Wells said that while she knew of her nomination, she had not got her hopes up after missing out on the award in 2016.
‘‘It’s pretty amazing – I tried to hold it together, and I can’t recall if I said ‘It’s about time’ to someone . . . but it was a great conference, all those characters in that room – so much knowledge.’’
Wells joined 49-year industry stalwart Dave Sharp, Vince Sydall of Moana New Zealand’s oyster operations, and Greg Bishop of Leigh Fisheries as the award winners.
Wells’ lifelong link to seafood has included a variety of jobs, from night cleaner at Sealord to a fish factory in Iceland, to being business partner to former husband Ken.
Having started as treasurer with the Port Nelson Fishermen’s Association in 1992, she has gone on to champion the seafood industry in her own right, through business and her 12-year association with the Women in Seafood initiative.
However, she said her 22-year relationship with the Sydney Fish Market had been pivotal in the development of FinestKind, as well as putting local seafood on a broader platform.
Wells said the industry was starting to undergo a ‘‘changing of the guard’’, with more women and young people represented in all levels of operations.
The Our People award went to Justin Hough of New Zealand King Salmon and Moana New Zealand.
Pankhurst said Hough received his award for leading work in the outer Pelorus Sound, ensuring staff safety and leading significant changes in farming processes where sites were exposed to high seas and high tidal flow.
Moana – the largest Ma¯ori– owned fisheries company in New Zealand – was recognised for tackling mental health issues. ‘‘Their initiative in engaging Mike King to speak to their staff throughout New Zealand about stress, depression and mental illness was groundbreaking and shows real leadership in staff welfare,’’ Pankhurst said.
Nelson also featured in the Future Development Innovation Award, which went to Kathleen Hofman of Plant and Food Research, Andrew Stanley of Sanford, and Iain Hosie of Revolution Fibres for their revolutionary use of hoki skins to develop actiVLayr, a cosmetic skin product that has received international acclaim.