The Seafood Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) officially opened for business on the 6th August 2007 at Port Adelaide, where we were blessed with beautiful, sunny weather.

150 guests from industry, education and research sectors arrived at the Australian Fisheries Academy to celebrate the centre’s achievements, to enjoy the networking opportunities with CRC participants and to dine on high quality Australian seafood products.

The official proceedings began with F.V. Marija-L’s grand entrance up the Port River. The entrance was made more dramatic with the opening of the Birkenhead Bridge as the crew rang the bells and blew the whistles whilst the INXS song “New Sensation” blared over the “sea waves”.

Chairman of the Seafood CRC Board Peter Dundas-Smith then took to the stage and told launch guests, “ It took more than 2.5 years of work by an ‘army’ of industry and government people, to form what is possibly be the third largest ever CRC”.

“The CRC is concentrating on two things. The first is research that’s tightly focused on the needs of CRC investors. The second is bang for buck. The Seafood CRC is a very commercial organisation, with industry in the majority on the board, and the centre is backed by top researchers around Australia.”

Managing Director, Dr Len Stephens during his speech was also quick to point out that the CRC would be industry driven. Dr Stephens said, “The aim is to drive dollars into industry pockets through innovative collaborative research across the whole of the seafood value chain. The focus of the research will be on production efficiency and profitability, as well as lifting the quality and integrity of products from this multi-sector group”.

He added, “In an environment of increased pressures on resources and rising costs, the CRC provides the method for industry and science to work together”.

Executive Director of the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation Dr Patrick Hone said that the beauty of the Seafood CRC is the incredible diversity of participants, “It’s truly national and it covers the whole supply chain. We have the involvement of Australia’s premier research industry for seafood – we are all cooperating for a common purpose”.

Senator the Hon Eric Abetz who officially launched the company was incredibly enthusiastic , “Considerable resources are being contributed by industry and their investment will drive R&D that will contain costs, improve product quality, reduce wastage throughout the value chain, increase productivity and develop new markets. The hallmark result will be safe, high quality, nutritious and sustainably managed seafood products”.

Guests enjoyed the day’s hospitality which featured a stunning seafood lunch, industry product showcases, research provider displays and a cooking demonstration by Simplot Australia’s Executive Chef David White.

Former Federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, the Hon Eric Abetz enjoys an oyster with Chairman of the Board Peter Dundas-Smith and Tasmanian oyster grower Scott Parkinson

The magnificent Marija-L makes her way to the launch site

Professor Colin Buxton from the Tasmanian Aquaculture and Fisheries Institute with Frances Bender from Huon Aquaculture

Former Australian Prawn Fisherman's Association Executive Officer Scott Walter, enjoys a farmed prawn from Queensland

Emily Downes with Robert Lechnic and his crew from the Marija-L

Emily Downes from the Australian Seafood CRC celebrates with Heather Riddell from the South Australian Research and Development Institute

Board Director Roger Cotton and the Hon Eric Abetz try a piece of Southern Rocklobster

Guests enjoy the launch's fine seafood

David White, Simplot Australia's Executive Chef prepares "Giant Halves" for the crowd from Southern Rocklobster proudly provided by Southern Rocklobster Ltd