CEO Message – New WAFIC CEO highlights industry priorities
A big hello to everyone! I am a couple of weeks into my new role as the WAFIC Chief Executive Officer and despite the lengthy ‘to do’ list, I am genuinely pleased to be joining the WAFIC team and honoured to be representing the interests of the commercial fishing industry.
I am a strong supporter of primary industries generally, because unlike so many other sectors, they can be managed sustainably as a renewable resource.
I don’t wish to oversimplify things but, if you want to reduce your carbon footprint – buy local.
If you want to consume premium quality seafood food – buy local.
If you want to support sustainable fishing – buy local.
And if you genuinely care about our planet, then don’t exploit the resources of developing nations. Be a part of the solution and manage the resources of your own nation with excellence and buy local!
So, what now? Well, it is the nature of industry associations to deal with spot fires as they arise and WAFIC will continue to do that, in a timely manner.
I am starting to meet with fishers to hear first hand all the key issues and needs of the industry. I am also keen to hear what members value about WAFIC and what opportunities for improvement there may be so I can take this into consideration when reshaping WAFIC for the future.
In addition to this core work, I will be building relationships with key industry stakeholders, including government, to ensure WAFIC is well positioned to engage in meaningful conversations about the longer-term strategy for the commercial fishing sector. Looking at where we want to be in the future as opposed to where we are now.
Obviously we don’t want to be in some quasi race-to-the-bottom, but to be a vibrant and secure industry that exists to provide seafood to the broader community who are not fishing for themselves. Because if Lamb is for Australia Day, then local seafood is certainly for Christmas – as are pearls and maybe diamonds! But I digress.
The immediate agenda items for WAFIC include negotiating a package for all commercial fishers likely to be impacted by the pending South Coast Marine Park announcement and to ensure the fishers that remain have a secure and viable future in the industry.
It’s also important that we return to the table to negotiate meaningful changes to the FRMA to extend security to the broader fishing industry and to use our communication tools to educate and promote the commercial fishing industry.
Windfarms are also a priority, and as the likely proponents become known we will also work hard to mitigate the fisheries impacts of any offshore windfarm developments.
Again, I really look forward to meeting you all and if I don’t see you before, I hope to see you at the AGM in December.
Best wishes,
Mel Haslam