It is with great sadness that we report the passing away of former AFMA Chairman Jim McColl AM.
In 1991, Jim McColl was appointed by the then Minister for Primary Industries, John Kerin, as the inaugural Chairman of the Australian Fisheries Management Authority, a statutory body established to replace the then Australian Fisheries Service within the Commonwealth Department of Primary Industries. The early stages of his Chairmanship were challenging, particularly developing relationships with the fishing industry and working with the various governments of the day.
Upon his appointment, Jim took the time to go around Australia to talk to the commercial industry in particular to listen to and understand their concerns and discuss possible solutions. Over the next 9 years, Jim worked with successive Boards and management teams to improve the management of the seafood industry.
Everyone who worked with Jim was immediately aware of his absolute and unswerving commitment to better fisheries management and he left Commonwealth fisheries, fishing businesses, fishing families and AFMA in better shape than when he started.