Seafood from a pristine environment

Australian export case study

The rugged west coast of Tasmania, where the cool seas of the Southern Ocean are enriched by nutrient-full fresh river waters, offers one of the world’s most pristine environments.

It is here that Petuna Seafoods grows out smolt (baby fingerlings) for its most discerning clients.

These fish – Ocean Trout and Atlantic Salmon – are selectively bred at an inland hatchery then carefully transported to sea farms where 120 metre diameter pens hold up to 12,000 fish each until they reached the desired weight.

This perfect growing environment produces some of the best eating fish in the world.

“We have a very specialised product which caters to the top end of the restaurant market and supermarkets in Japan,” says Tim Hess, Petuna Seafoods’ General Manager Sales & Logistics.

“Quality and freshness are everything,” he says. “Our shipments of chilled fish arrive within 24 hours of dispatch.”

Petuna Seafoods has a big operation: it is the largest fully integrated seafood company in Tasmania and the largest producer of ocean trout.

“It has taken us fifteen years or working in Japan to get to the point where we have the right agents in place and the right markets,” says Mr Hess.

He says Austrade had been a big help. “Austrade Tokyo certainly helped us get a foot in the door of the Japanese market.

“In fact, Austrade has been a key factor in our exporting success. Many Austrade offices have provided us with assistance, from here in Tasmania to Japan and the United States.”