The industry’s top seafood retailers, restaurants and suppliers have been praised at the biennial Sydney Fish Market Seafood Excellence Awards.
The Award winners were determined by either a panel of industry experts or the general public, the latter of which decided the People’s Choice categories, including Best Seafood Restaurant; Best Fish and Chips; and Best Seafood Retailer at Sydney Fish Market.
Winner of the Best Seafood Restaurant was Fish Caf by Balgowlah Seafoods, while the crown for Best Fish and Chips went to Darron’s Seafood in Wamberal on the Central Coast. Claudio’s Quality Seafoods was named Best Seafood Retailer at Sydney Fish Markets.
Brad Warren, executive chair of OceanWatch Australia was presented with the Star of the Sea award, recognizing him for his service to the seafood industry, particularly in expanding OceanWatch into a nationally recognised organisation and as a leader in environmental and social sustainability.
De Costi Seafoods at Sydney Fish Market won Best Seafood Retailer (NSW), with De Costi Seafoods (Holdings) named Best Seafood Business. Coffs Harbour Fisherman’s Co-operative claimed the Best Supplier (NSW) award and Best Supplier (Interstate or Overseas) was presented to joint-winners: Clean Seas in Port Lincoln, SA, and OPC Fish and Lobster, New Zealand. The Excellence in Environmental Practice category went to XL Oysters in Port Stephens.
Sydney Fish Market general manager, Bryan Skepper, said “With every Seafood Excellence Awards, the competition gets tougher as seafood businesses becoming increasingly savvy and customers become more knowledgeable in their seafood choices. All nominees for the Seafood Excellence Awards are at the top of their game and deliver in taste, freshness and sustainability. It’s a big tick of approval from the seafood industry to win a Seafood Excellence Awards.”
The awards were presented on 27 August at the Sydney Fish Market’s Sydney Seafood School.