Northern Territory industry leaders Bob Richards and Chris Calogeras earn Australian seafood hall of fame recognition

A number of Top End seafood icons and businesses shone bright at the industry’s national hall of fame celebration, with two of our leading lights earning a prized honour.

Two stars of the Northern Territory’s seafood industry have been honoured nationally with induction into a hall of fame during a ceremony in Brisbane on the weekend.

Dr Chris Calogeras and Bob Richards have been stalwarts of the Top End’s seafood sector for decades and the induction entry has confirmed the status in which they are held nationally.

NT Seafood Council chief executive Katherine Winchester said the awards were richly deserved.

“It was fabulous to see the two NT industry ambassadors inducted into the Australian seafood industry’s hall of fame,” Ms Winchester said.

“The calibre of finalists in the national awards is extremely high and this year was no exception.

“For the Northern Territory to have six finalists, plus two hall of fame inductees, is testament to the hard work, passion and innovation from within the NT seafood industry.”

Dr Chris Calogeras has earned top recognition or his work in the seafood industry.

Dr Calogeras is vice-chair of the NT Seafood Council and owner of C-AID Consultants.

The business provides consulting services to the public and private sector around sustainable use of aquatic resources, aquaculture development and food safety.

“It’s such a great honour to be inducted in to this group of seafood industry legends,” Dr Calogeras said.

“I was nominated ... because of my 30-odd years of work with the broad industry trying to bring people together to foster connections and help people to increase capacity to reach their potential, personally and professionally.

“This is only possible through the assistance, trust and commitment of the people I work with,

and for.

“It is an incredible honour and I am truly chuffed.”

Humpty Doo Barramundi’s Bob Richards is a Northern Territory seafood icon.

Mr Richards and his wife Julii Tyson were awarded Orders of Australia in the Queen’s Birthday Honors this year for their services to developing the Territory’s seafood industry.

In 1994, the couple invested in the struggling Humpty Doo Barramundi and used their sense and business acumen to develop the facility into one of the nation’s finest barra farms.

“To be inducted into the hall of fame, that acknowledges many heroes and characters from our industry is an absolute honour,” Mr Richards said.

“It is extremely rewarding after 29 years working in the seafood industry, to see how Humpty Doo Barramundi has grown.

“I never set out with the vision of what HDB is today, rather, I played my part by solving one problem at a time.”

The other Territory nominees were Robert Fish (ambassador award), Mr Barra (business award small), Monsoon Aquatic (business award large), NT offshore net and line licensee committee and DITT fisheries division (environment award), Rescue Me Food Services (fish and chip award) and Phat Mango by Martin the Chef (restaurant award).