The Australian Council of Prawn Fisheries Ltd (ACPF) has been operating for over 10 years and is made up of membership from local industry bodies and companies that work with wild prawns or the prawn industry.
Our Mission
Our mission is to support Members to catch and market premium wild prawns from sustainable fisheries and healthy marine ecosystems, with skilled people, best practices and leading technologies. The ACPF aims to lead a professional, safe, united and profitable industry, respected and valued by Australians.
Our Board
The ACPF is governed by a Board of Directors and operations are conducted by an Executive Officer. The Board of Directors are nominated and elected from within its membership. The Board of Directors is currently:
Neil MacDonald
CHAIR
Neil runs a consultancy business which provide a range of services to various state and Commonwealth industry representative bodies, including the Executive Officer role to the Saint Vincent Gulf Prawn Boat Owner’s Association (SVGPBOA). He has also supported industry groups in several jurisdictions through a range of governance and organisational design programs. Neil previously worked as a government fishery manager for a diverse range of fisheries including prawn trawl and engaged in supporting the SA peak industry body in roles including industry extension and management.
Annie Jarrett
Annie started her fisheries career as a cook/deckhand on trawlers in Northern Australia in the 1980’s. She has enjoyed a raft of roles in her career, and is passionate about industry advocacy and fisheries sustainability. Annie is currently the CEO of the NPF Industry Pty Ltd, Chair of the ACPF (2015 – 2023), an MSC stakeholder council member, Commonwealth Fisheries Association director, member of the Global Ghost Gear Initiative (GGGI) and an advisor to the Prince Charles International Sustainability Unit (Marine). In her down time, Annie is an avid beach-goer and enjoys travel and music.
Ashley Lukin
Ashley has worked for 18 years in the Spencer Gulf (SA) prawn fishery associated with the family business. He has skippered a vessel for the last four years, spent three years on the Committee at Sea, six months on the Spencer Gulf fishery management committee, five years on the research committee and graduated from the National Seafood Industry Leadership Program in 2018.
Stefan Diacos
Stefan Diacos’ family has been in the seafood industry for over 40 years owning many seafood retail outlets as well as both a Bay Trawler and River Trawler operating out of Brisbane. For the last 12 years Stefan has worked for A Raptis and Sons P/L and as their National Business Manager since 2011. Stefan is committed to sustainable fishing practices and the ongoing improvement of the Wild Catch Prawn sector.
Neil Mogensen
Neil is a commercial prawn trawler skipper/owner based in Townsville and has been involved in the management of the fishery as a representative on advisory groups over a number of years. Neil is a member if Seafood Industry Australia and the Qld Seafood Industry Association.
Dylan Skinns
Dylan graduated from the Australian Maritime College (AMC) in 1999 and went on to join the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) before joining Austral Fisheries in 2002. His apprenticeship involved time at sea in the company’s fleet; both the prawn fleet in the north and the southern fleet fishing for Patagonian Toothfish. Dylan is a passionate supporter of the Australian industry and is now responsible for sales and marketing for all of the Austral wild catch. Dylan is also a mad keen recreational fisherman.
Demetri Demosthenous
Demetri has over 30 years experience in the seafood industry in sales and marketing roles; the last 5 years as General Manager at Sea harvest (formerly Maretteram), previously Cone Bay Aquaculture, 11 years as an import distributor with Markwell Fisheries and 10 years as Sales/Export manager with Catalano Seafoods.
Gary Howard
Gary has a long history as a commercial fisherman in the Hawkesbury region an is the current Chair of the Professional Fisherman’s Association (NSW). Gary is a well known advocate for sustainable fishing and environment stewardship.