Fishing great Theo Kailis passes away

One of the dominant players in the state's commercial fishing industry for the past half a century Theo Kailis has died.

The WA Fishing Industry Council has paid tribute to Mr Kailis saying he paid an important role in the state's billion dollar fishing industry.

His career spanned more than 60 years and has best been summarised as "years and years of innovation".

Mr Kailis experienced major changes in the commercial fishing industry during his career.

He created the Kailis and France Group in partnership with Murray France.

It became one of Australia's most diversified and valuable seafood businesses with interests in every aspect from fishing to processing, to local and export marketing and to innovative value adding top fresh fish, lobster and prawns.

The Council said Mr Kailis was one of the commercial fishing industry's great leaders.

See statement from the Fishing Industry Council below:

It is with deep regret that WA Fishing Industry Council pays tribute to one of the commercial fishing industry's great leaders - Theo G Kailis.

His influence on the industry is enduring. Through his achievements and personal leadership he will always be an icon of Australia's fishing industry.

Theo G Kailis's career in the fishing industry spanned more than 60 years and has best been summarised as "years and years of innovation".

Throught the years Mr Kailis experienced the major changes in the commercial fishing industry that has taken it from a humble group of fishermen plying their trade to local markets to a billion dollar export industry selling its product in the world market place.

He was a dominate player in the industry's evolution through his untiring service on State and Federal advisory committees and industry bodies.

From small beginnings he forged an empire that is renowned for its professionalism, diversification, creative value adding and commitment to world's best practises in environmental management.

He created the Kailis and France Group in partnership with Murray France, it became one of Australia's most diversified and valuable seafood businesses with interests in every aspect from fishing to processing, to local and export marketing and to innovative value adding top fresh fish, lobster and prawns.

Amidst a myriad of achievements highlights of his career include the commissioning of the first Randall lobster boat that revolutionised deep sea lobster fishing in '60's, the many innovations introduced to facilitate the valuable live lobster export trade, he was a key player in the development of Northern Prawn Fishery and, along with Murray France, was the pioneer of the new Patagonian Toothfish fishery in the Antarctic.

Over the years Mr Kailis helped hundreds of fishermen get their start in the industry, and his company, under his tutelage, has been an incubator of many industry leaders.