A sign of our community connections
There’s a sign at Optus Stadium that’s much more than a sponsorship message. It’s also a symbol of Rare Foods Australia’s deep connections with the Fremantle and WA fishing communities.
The Rare Foods Australia (RFA) and Two Oceans Abalone signage is being displayed at Optus Stadium during all Fremantle Football Club home games during the 2024 season. Not a corporate expense, it was donated from the personal funds of Rare Foods Australia’s joint founder, largest shareholder and one of our Non-Executive Directors, Ignazio (Ian) Ricciardi.
As a passionate Freo supporter and player sponsor, Ian has also offered members of his beloved Dockers some guidance for a life after footy in the fishing industry. In the early days while playing for Freo, former defender and forward James Clement was employed by the Ricciardi family subsidiary seafood marketing company Focus Fisheries. James then went on to do his thesis on Protein Substitution in Abalone Artificial Diets.
More recently in 2021, with support from RFA, former Fremantle Captain David Mundy completed his University Honours Research on the RFA Ranch. Kicking goals for Freo and sustainable fishing, his thesis was Growth Variability of Green Lip Abalone within a Sea Ranching Operation off the Coast of Augusta, Western Australia, and its impact on economic returns.
From a family who built a highly successful Fremantle-based fishing company, Ian has an unwavering loyalty and passion for both the WA Seafood Industry and the Dockers.
Ian is a son of Natale Ricciardi, who arrived in Fremantle as a 22-year-old in 1949 from the Sicilian fishing village of Capo D’Orlando without a word of English but with a dream of creating a seafood business and better life for his family Western Australia.
Ian worked with his dad on board the family’s Shark Bay prawn trawler for five years. After learning the ropes, he eventually gained experience to manage and grow the family business by expanding the fleet of vessels in Shark Bay, the Kimberly and the Gulf of Carpentaria. Ian planned the construction of the family-owned Export Seafood Processing Facility in North Coogee. He then played a key role in implementing the successful 50% joint venture of that business with the Paino family. Ian was also instrumental in overseeing construction of Fremantle City Coldstores public bulk cold store business and the RFA Export Processing Facility in 2019.
Ian’s passion for sustainable fishing began from an early age. Over time he has gained significant experience in fisheries-related processes as well as robust marine stewardship practices. For 10 years Ian was Chairman of Shark Bay Prawn Association, which is committed to the ongoing sustainability of that fishery. He is currently a One Sea Pty Ltd director, overseeing a Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC) Scallop Stock Enhancement Project being conducted by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) from the WA Fisheries research facility in Hillarys. That project is expected to ensure the future of the Rottnest Island Scallop Fishery as well as map a sustainable pathway for other Australian Scallop fisheries.
Opening up abalone business
Ian’s interest in abalone began in 1998 when he was mesmerized by Terry Adams’ vision of growing greenlip abalone in a hatchery environment from locally sourced abalone broodstock, ensuring future sustainability of the species. That vision was followed by a long and arduous journey commencing with eight years of R&D at Great Southern Marine Hatchery (GSMH), followed by Two Oceans Abalone in 2009 securing a R&D ocean lease in Flinders Bay Augusta and commencing in sea trials.
Sadly, it was around this time that Terry Adams passed away and his son Brad became instrumental in continuing his father’s journey. That led to Ocean Grown Abalone (OGA) being formed in 2011 with support from funds sourced from a group of like-minded individuals who believed in the venture’s potential.
Just six years later OGA was listed on the ASX with the aim to scale and grow the business.
With an invigorated approach for the future, the Board changed of name to Rare Foods Australia in 2021.
“This was a big decision but it was taken with a firm belief in our company’s innovations and business model and of course our ability to take more premium produce from the beautiful South-West of WA to markets across the world,” Ian said.