Max Adams named as rising star in the WA Seafood Industry
Deep sea crab and rock lobster deckhand, Max Adams, was last night recognised when he won the Deckhand Award, sponsored by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) 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.
Max Adams, a fourth-generation commercial fisherman, embodies a lifelong passion for seafood. From his early days angling whiting in the Blackwood River at just four years old, to navigating his own dinghy at age six, Max’s destiny as a fisherman was clear.
Max has always seen commercial fishing as his calling, diligently acquiring qualifications since age 15, becoming the youngest student to complete a shipboard safety course at Fremantle TAFE. Now, at 19, Max holds a Master 5 and MED 2, eagerly learning to operate vessels. His journey illustrates a deep-rooted commitment to the fishing industry and a relentless pursuit of expertise.
Skipper Adam Towers-Hammond stated that “Max is a young man with bright future ahead of him. He started with ATH Fisheries as a 16-year-old and has stayed loyal to the company to this day. Max is the lead deckhand on the FV Northerly. ATH Fisheries catch Deep Sea crab and rock lobster from Albany to Kalbarri. Max has progressed quickly with ATH Fisheries and is a highly respected, integral member of the business.”
WA Fishing Industry Council (WAFIC) CEO, Darryl Hockey said Mr Adams has demonstrated ongoing passion, commitment and a willingness to take on challenges that make a positive contribution to the seafood industry. Due to his enthusiasm and sustainability conscious work ethic both in the classroom and on deck, he was awarded for his efforts to develop as an effective and respected seafood industry member.
The Deckhand Award, is a WA only accredited Award. This award has been established to recognise and reward the contributions and achievements of those at the coal-face of the fishing industry.
“As an industry body, we recognise the importance of acknowledging those individuals and organisations who make a substantial contribution to benefiting our industry, and Mr Adams is certainly incredibly worthy of this Award,” 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.