DPI Scientist recognised for Excellence in Environmental Practice

24 Jul 2017

NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) Senior Principal Research Scientist, Dr Matthew Broadhurst has been recognised at the 2017 Sydney Fish Markets Seafood Excellence Awards with a highly commended for Excellence in Environmental Practice.

The awards were announced on Thursday night at the biannual event after Dr Broadhurst was nominated by the Professional Fishermen’s Association (PFA).

DPI Deputy Director General Fisheries, Dr Geoff Allan, congratulated Dr Broadhurst on his award.

“Dr Broadhurst’s work is internationally recognised and I congratulate him on this important industry achievement,” Dr Allan said.

“The award recognised for Dr Broadhurst’s ongoing efforts to reduce the environmental footprint of commercial fishing gears used not only throughout NSW, but nationally and internationally.

“Dr Broadhurst’s relevant applied body of research encompasses inventing, developing, and assessing modifications to commercial prawn and fish trawls, seines, traps, gillnets and baited hook-and-line to reduce unwanted catches and collateral mortalities, energy expenditure (carbon footprint) and habitat impacts.

“All of the key outcomes from his research have been extended and adopted or eventually legislated throughout NSW commercial fisheries.

“His work is also internationally recognised as a pivotal tool for controlling the exploitation rate of economically important fisheries resources.

“In NSW, the ultimate outcome from Dr Broadhurst’s efforts can be measured as saving the lives of millions of aquatic animals each year that otherwise would have been incidentally killed in the pursuit of commercial harvest.”

Dr Broadhurst has been working in DPI for almost three decades and his research is summarised in more than 170 papers published in peer-reviewed international journals and books.

A large amount of his past research has involved shark biology, and as such he currently is playing an important role in the NSW Government's $16 million Shark Management Strategy.

“DPI is proud to be a gold sponsor of the Seafood Excellence Awards which showcase the high quality of product the NSW seafood industry produces,” Dr Allan said.

Media contact: Jamie Jones, 6391 3686