Alva Fisher Receives State Recognition

Alva fisher Sienna Green has been awarded the Young Achiever Award at the Queensland Seafood Industry Awards after being nominated for making “a positive difference to the seafood industry.”
26-year-old Sienna is a third-generation fisher who has been operating her own fishing business for the last six years.
When the State and Federal Governments announced a ban on the use of gillnets on the Great Barrier Reef in June last year, Sienna and her father Neil embarked on a nine-month battle for the rights of their industry.
“We’ve obviously had a massive nine months following everything with the gillnet ban, so I was just over the moon to be awarded,” Sienna said.
“I was up against some strong competition, so to come out on top, especially representing wild caught, was just awesome.”
Being a third-generation fisher, Sienna grew up helping on the boats with her dad, Neil, and her mum Leanne.
“I’ve been on the water all my life,” she said.
“It’s something I never thought I could or wanted to do, being a professional fisher, but after school, nothing really stood out to me.”
Sienna took a gap year to work with her parents, taking on more responsibility and growing her skills and experience.
“I thought I might just give it a go myself and see how I go and there was a massive difference from being in the deckhand’s seat to being in the skipper’s seat and I absolutely loved it,” she said.
“I’ve been operating my own fishing business for just over six years, and I haven’t looked back.”
Driven by the needs of the seafood consumer, Sienna is passionate about providing fresh, wild caught seafood, and appreciates the unique nature of the line of work she’s chosen to pursue.
“They’re the ones who rely on us to catch their share of the resource out there, and being a third-generation professional fisher, that’s in my blood,” she said.
“You’re working in the most beautiful environment out there on the water.
“Every day is different, there’s never a roster or a routine, and you’re always learning, and that’s the part that keeps me keen and excited.”
Travelling to Brisbane for the gala dinner on Friday, March 15, Sienna used the opportunity to represent the wild caught inshore net fishery she is a part of.
“We had Fisheries Queensland and some managers in the room as well as the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries, Mark Furner, so I was very honoured to receive the award having them in the room,” she said.
“I wouldn’t have been able to get as far as what I have without our local community’s support.
“The local traditional owners and the council, politicians, we wouldn’t be where we are without them, so we’re very grateful for all of that support that we’ve received over the past nine months.
“I hope by winning the award, I have done our inshore net fishery proud, and that with an award of this significance, I hope it can showcase our industry.”
Sienna and Neil are currently in Canberra where they prepared barramundi on the doorstep of Parliament House, hoping to showcase what will be taken away should gillnet fishing be banned in 2027.

Alva fisher Sienna Green was awarded the Young Achiever Award at the Queensland Seafood Industry Awards. Photo supplied

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