New vessel dedicated to the memory of late Fisheries Queensland director

Former Fisheries Queensland director Andrew Thwaites has been honoured, with a new Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol (QBFP) vessel named in his memory.

Fisheries Minister Bill Byrne officially dedicated the ‘A.J. Thwaites’ at a ceremony in Manly.

Minister Byrne said the 6.8 metre rigid hull inflatable boat to be based at QBFP Redland would fittingly patrol some of Andrew Thwaites’ favourite waterways in South East Queensland.

“Andrew was a highly-respected marine scientist, an influential fisheries manager and a passionate advocate for the marine environment,” Minister Byrne said.

“When he wasn’t working hard to manage Queensland’s valuable fisheries resources, Andrew was in the ocean, pursuing his love of scuba diving and fishing.

“Andrew was a much-loved member of the Fisheries Queensland family.

“His sudden death while scuba diving off Moreton Island in August 2016 was a devastating loss and he is deeply missed by his family, friends and work colleagues. Andrew was aged just 44.

“Andrew made a significant contribution to the Queensland Government during his 23 years of public service.

“As Minister, I worked directly, and sometimes daily with Andrew when he led the Fisheries Queensland team implementing the Palaszczuk Government’s net free zone policy.

“The Green Paper on Fisheries Management Reform was one of Andrew’s key achievements, which paved the way for one of the biggest reforms to fisheries management in Queensland’s history, with the recent release of the Sustainable Fisheries Strategy 2017-2027.

“Andrew’s influence on fisheries management in Queensland is ongoing and the opportunity to dedicate a new Fisheries vessel in his name is a wonderful commemoration of his legacy.”

Andrew Thwaites began his career with the Department of Primary Industries in 1993 as an administration officer with the R-Fish recreational fishing survey project.

He went on to roles within the Queensland Fisheries Management Authority, Biosecurity Queensland and Fisheries Queensland where he was appointed director in 2011, then Director of Regulatory Reform and Assessment in 2012.

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