Here at AFMA we like to celebrate the achievements of our staff, both past and present. Last month, AFMA’s David Power who is currently an Adviser to the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency, presented at TEDxSydney.
Dave spoke about the work Pacific nations, including Australia, are doing to help end the threat of illegal fishing and overfishing to Pacific island communities. Cooperation between the Pacific nations has led to great success in reducing illegal fishing, and the island states are leading the way with sustainably managed fisheries to safeguard their fishing future.
Check Dave’s TEDx talk out at: tedxsydney.com/talk/tedxsydney-2017-david-power/
During his seven years at AFMA, Dave managed the demersal longline and gillnet fisheries in southeast Australia. Some of Dave’s achievements with AFMA included working with fishers to implement innovative management that helped reduce bycatch of dolphins and seabirds, ensure sustainability and improve profitability in the fishery. These measures included simplifying regulations and implementing camera based monitoring on each boat to identify where improvements were needed. Holding individual fishers responsible for their actions has strengthened incentives for fishers to innovate and minimise their bycatch while ensuring they continue providing good quality, sustainable Australian seafood for all.
Congratulations Dave!