Hockey to lead WAFIC

Darryl Hockey has been appointed chief executive of the Western Australian Fishing Industry Council Inc, replacing Alex Ogg who resigned in July.

Mr Hockey has had a varied career, working in government, media consulting, politics and international relations.

Most recently, he worked for NortherlyPRO International providing business development opportunities, media consultancy services and geopolitical strategy and international dispute resolution for his clients.

Mr Hockey co-founded the Henderson Alliance, a group of small-to-medium businesses in the defence industry, and is a board member of Regional Development Australia and Lithium Valley WA.

Mr Hockey told Business News he could bring experience from his eclectic background to help the fishing industry.   

“It’s a very issues-rich industry,” Mr Hockey said.

“There is a lot of diversity in the industry between sectors and even within sectors, so there’s all sorts of ever-evolving challenges that the industry needs to embrace.”

Growing up on the south coast, Mr Hockey said he had always been interested in the sector and his mother’s family had owned a shipping business.

He said he planned to create a more certain and sustainable future for the industry.

“There’s nobody that needs cleaner waters or a more pristine habitat or more sustainable fish numbers than the commercial fishing sector," Mr Hockey said. 

“We are the ones that need that, therefore we need to be custodians of the ocean.”

Given the complex issues within the commercial fishing sector, he said engaging with stakeholders would be key to his new role.

“The first plan I’ve got is to get out there and engage with the industry on the boat, on the shore and on the factory floor,” Mr Hockey said.

He has several trips planned for his first month on the job, this week travelling to Esperance.