Generations of Fishing
From the humble beginnings of a Greek migrant, to managing a thriving prawn fishing fleet, Kon Paleologoudias not only established himself as legend in the Australian prawn fishing industry, but also left the legacy of a solid foundation for his family. Through many years of working, his son Nick was able to expand the horizons of the business further, broadening the reach of the Kon Paul & Sons name. Now, years later, with grandson Steve at the helm of F.V. Bosanquet Bay, the legend lives on through the latest evolution of the business - Venus Bay Prawns - continuing to deliver the highest quality Western King Prawns, advancing practices for impact management and industry leadership, and forever leaning into the steadfast dedication and passion of those before him.
Kon Paleologoudias
Born on the fishing island of Lemnos, Greece in 1932, Kon worked as a welder before migrating to Australia in the 1950s to build a life and a family.
Initially living in Adelaide, he worked as a rabbit trapper before moving to Thevenard to open a fish factory with his brother, Harry. In 1964 he purchased land and built a fish factory in the small, seaside township of Port Kenny. Soon after opening the factory, Kon also secured his Prawn Fishing License, later building his first prawn fishing boat, F.V. “Limnos”, named after the island on which he was born. It was on this boat that the Kon Paul and Sons legacy would be built. By the 1970s, Kon had not only established himself within the fishing community, but was raising four children with his wife Margarita.
In 2001, Kon Paul & Sons purchased their second boat F.V “Bosanquet Bay”. Named after a fishing bay in Thevenard, Ceduna, it remains the only fibreglass boat of its kind in South Australia – specifically made for the untamed oceans in which it fishes. Together with the “Shannendoah” (fishing in the Gulf Saint Vincent) and the “Limnos”, the three boats secured Kon’s hopes of creating a life for his family for generations to come.
Kon sadly passed away in June of 2019, leaving behind a legacy that will be remembered by all who knew him, and many who did not.
NICK PALEOLOGOUDIAS
From humble beginnings in Port Kenny in 1969, Nick showed business and intellectual promise from a young age. After completing his schooling at Scotch college in 1982, Nick went on to successfully study at the Adelaide Business School. Following his graduation, Nick returned home to Port Kenny to apply his knowledge to the Fish Processing Factory that his parents and brothers had been diligently working on, and later to the entire Kon Paul & Sons company. In 1985 he became a deck hand aboard the Limnos, achieving his skippers ticket several years later, and going on to captain the F.V. Bosanquet Bay and F.V. Limnos on and off over the following years.
In 1989, Nick married his soulmate Karen, and together they brought their children Steve and Kailie into the world. Upon the birth of his children, Nick took on the role of shore manager to alleviate some of Kon’s duties, as well as to be closer to his family. Being skilled in business, he concentrated his energy on expanding and broadening the reach of the Kon Paul & Sons brand.
Through the 2000s, Nick was as busy as ever, and became a member in the Spencer Gulf and West Coast Prawn Fishing Association. While he was skippering the Bosanquet Bay, and managing the two fishing vessels in marketing, sales, and distribution, he also completed the South Australian Seafood Industry Leadership & Personal Development Program (July 2001), and the National Seafood Leadership Development Program (October 2005) – this culminated in Nick giving a presentation in Canberra of his project titled “Exceptional Circumstances Support for Australian Wild Catch Fisheries”.
After mentoring Steve through his Master 5 certificate and into the role of skipper on the F.V Bosanquet Bay, Nick’s career in business was in full swing. As well as being a devoted husband, father, and an active member of the community in sport and council, Nick was a diligent representative for his fathers company, a passionate advocate on the Spencer Gulf and West Coast Prawn Association board (17 years), an energetic member of the Australian Council of Prawn Fisheries, plus taking on many other roles and responsibilities within the industry. These years were some of his busiest, but it was a labour of love knowing he was building something that would be passed on to his children and beyond.
In 2019, a devastating blow was dealt to the Paleologoudias family when Nick tragically and suddenly passed away, with Kon passing shortly after. Nick has since received an “Honorary Award” for his outstanding contribution to the West Coast Prawn Fishery & Associations. A true legend in life and in death.
Steve Paleologoudias
From the ripe age of 8 years old, Steve was right alongside his grandfather, father, and uncles as they threw ropes onto the Venus Bay jetty, processed catches, and fished the wild and unforgiving seas of the Eyre Peninsula.
This exposure from such a young age not only fuelled his love and respect for the ocean, but his passion for the industry in which his family history is so deeply rooted. After working on deck and in the wheelhouse of the F.V. Bosanquet Bay with his father Nick for much of his life, Steve moved to Adelaide to complete his Master Class 5 and MED 1 certificate. In 2015 he returned home to take over the role of captain of F.V. Bosanquet Bay. Steve would tell you that it was no coincidence that upon his return began a run of some of the best catch rates the crew had ever seen.
After the tragic passing of Nick and Kon in 2019, Steve was no longer just the captain of the Bosanquet Bay, but also the onshore manager, sales rep, administrator, and bookkeeper. With the countless valuable lessons about business, life and fishing passed on to him by his father and grandfather, Steve set out to build the Venus Bay Prawns brand into something that they could look down on with pride.
Now married and living in Elliston, Steve moves into a new era of fishing. He carries with him the skills and resilience required for sustainable, efficient prawn fishing, along with the values of hard work and determination required to create success in business - taught to him by some of the legends of the industry.
