The Fisherman’s Daughter turns beach waste into maritime art
The Fisherman’s Daughter, Mandy Collinson, was last night recognised when she won the Environment Award, sponsored by Ward Packaging, at the 2024 Western Australian Seafood Industry Awards.
The Awards event, recognising excellence in the WA seafood industry, was held at The Esplanade Hotel in Fremantle and opened by Minister for Fisheries Hon Don Punch MLA in front of a large audience of industry participants and representatives of various stakeholder groups.
The Fishermans Daughter project began when Mandy Collinson stepped up to defend her heartfelt childhood memories, regional upbringing, and fisheries heritage, when it was being openly attacked on social media. Mandy felt our West Australian fishing communities, who work hard in all seasons with a natural affinity for the ocean and a commitment to sustainability, were being openly misrepresented, and developed a back-door approach to promoting environmental management.
By recycling common fishing by-products into artworks, The Fishermans Daughter could remove waste and plastics from WA beaches and turn them into spectacular artworks that would promote ‘our west coast heritage and fishing culture’ and support mental health initiatives.
Today, The Fishermans Daughter enjoys a growing army of followers who are sharing her passion and recycling beach waste into artworks, while pursuing a goal of a net-zero carbon footprint.
WA Fishing Industry Council (WAFIC) CEO, Darryl Hockey said The Fisherman’s Daughter has demonstrated excellence in developing and undertaking an environmental activity that has contributed substantially towards protecting or rehabilitating aquatic environments, or reducing adverse seafood industry impacts on the environment.
“As an industry body, we recognise the importance of acknowledging those individuals and organisations who make a substantial contribution to benefiting our industry, and The Fisherman’s Daughter has made an impact on protecting the coastal environment,” Mr Hockey concluded.
About the Awards Event
The event is supported by a number of partners including;
- Wester Rock Lobster (Gold event partner), Taylor Marine (Gold event partner), Sunderland Marine (Silver event partner), Fins Seafood (Silver event partner), as well as partners for each of the individual awards, including Aquarius Lawyers, Austral Fisheries, Baker Refrigeration, Bendotti Exporters/WA Chip, Chevron Australia, Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD), Endeavour Foods, Fisheries Research & Development Corporation (FRDC), Francis A Jones, MG Kailis Group, Sea Harvest Australia, Ward Packaging, Woodside Energy and Western Rock Lobster.
- Award event attendees enjoyed an array of fresh, local and sustainably caught Western Australian seafood prepared by celebrity chefs and kindly donated by sponsors including; Albany Sardines, Archipelago Octopus, Austral Fisheries, Bellbuoy Seafoods, Bowithick, Brown Dog Fishing Co, Endeavour Foods, Esperance Seafoods, Fins Seafood, Fremantle Octopus, Fremantle Seaweed, Huon, Leeuwin Coast, Lobster Shack, Ocean Wild Tuna, Paspaley, Rare Foods Australia, Sabea Fishing Co, Seafresh, Sea Harvest Australia, Shark Bay Cockles, Two Rocks Tentacles, Bendotti Exporters/WA Chip, Westmore Seafoods & Wollaston Fish & Chips all served in compostable packaging provided by Ward Packaging.
- Highly regarded “celebrity”’ seafood chefs cooked at the event including; Brad Adams (Rare Foods Australia – Producer Chef), Liam Atkinson (Le Rebelle & Bar Rogue), Damien Bell (Bellbuoy Seafoods – Producer Chef), Scott Bridger (Bib & Tucker), Steven Finch (Indigo Oscar), Neil Forbes (Black Pearl Oyster Shucking), Danny Matthews (The Seasonal Brewing Co), Leigh Nash (Norfolk Hotel), Leigh Power (Shui Subiaco), Navarre Top (Double Rainbow Eating House), Sam Vial (Wollaston Fish & Chips) and Chase Weber (Gorilla BBQ & Consultant to Kaarla Restaurant – Singapore) prepared an array of delicious food at the event.
- The event was held on Friday 3 May, 2024 at Fremantle’s Esplanade Hotel with Karl Langdon (Former West Coast Eagle and 6PR Radio presenter) who played the role of Master of Ceremonies.