Welcome to the October issue of SFM News

Blessing of the Fleet

The annual Blessing of the Fleet was held in partnership with Association Bagnara Calabra on Sunday 25th September.

Festivities commenced with the colourful procession of the statue of the Santa Maria Di Porto Salvo followed by live entertainment featuring Grant Galea, Chris Ninni, Danni Da Ros, Platinum, Latin Vibes and The Italian Folk Dancers performing on a floating stage moored in the front of the boardwalk. Afternoon activities also included the hotly contested spaghetti eating competition and prawn peeling contest. The event was well attended with approximately 23,700 visitors on the day.

United Seafood Industries National Peak Body

Sydney Fish Market has proudly pledged its support for the United Seafood Industries National Peak Body. The new body will be the voice of the industry at the National level and promote a viable and sustainable seafood industry with representation from the wild-catch, aquaculture and post-harvest sectors.

The USI team have produced a short video about the project and the compelling need for a united voice at a national level. You can watch that video here.

To download the Prospectus CLICK HERE and Letter of Intent CLICK HERE. The Prospectus outlines the aims of the national peak body and what the organisation will look like, including its structure and funding model. Membership will be voluntary, with a tiered membership fee that relates to the size of the business or association.

If you would like more information or to be more involved, please contact Veronica Papacosta, Implementation Group Chair by calling 0409 220 788 or emailing info@unitedseafoodindustries.com.au.

Sydney Fish Market Environment Grant

Applications are now open for the 2016 Sydney Fish Market Environment Grant. We are proud to offer an annual grant of up to $10,000 to adopt better fishing practices. This grant is available to an individual or group of fishers/aquaculturists who are active suppliers to Sydney Fish Market.

Applications and supporting documentation are to be submitted to Sydney Fish Market by 31 October 2016. Click HERE to download the application form.

Please send applications to:
Stephanie Williams, Corporate Social Responsibility & External Relations Manager
Sydney Fish Market
Email: stephaniew@sydneyfishmarket.com.au
Post: Locked Bag 247, Pyrmont, NSW, 2009

Sydney Seafood School Summer Program

The Sydney Seafood School (SSS) Summer Program has launched with an expanded ‘more-than-seafood’ offering.

Chef Romeo Baudouin from Victor Churchill Butchery leads a sausage making workshop in November, while Morgan McGlone from Belles Hot Chicken brings the delights of America’s Deep South and its addictive chicken in December. In February, one of our favourite regular presenters, Giovanni Pilu, will be teaching the art of the porcetto.Also new to this program is a series of kids and teens classes in January.

Heading into the festive season, SSS will continue the Book-For-6-Pay-For-5 group special. The Sydney Seafood School Cookbook ($39.99) is now in its seventh print, containing over 80 recipes from 49 of the country’s leading chefs, plus all you need to know about buying, storing and preparing seafood, including step-by-step colour photos.

The November – January program of classes can be viewed at www.sydneyfishmarket.com.au. Classes can be booked online and gift certificates and copies of the Sydney Seafood School Cookbook purchased from the website. Contact Sydney Seafood School on +61 2 9004 1111 or sss@sydneyfishmarket.com.au.

Steptember Buyers BBQ

For the entire month of September, five teams from Sydney Fish Market undertook the challenge of completing 10,000 steps a day, to raise vital funds for Cerebral Palsy Alliance.

The average office worker only takes around 3,000 steps per day, so 10,000 steps a day has been quite the challenge.

On Tuesday 13th September, SFM hosted a Buyers BBQ Breakfast to support fundraising efforts of the participants. Through the generosity of our buyers, a dollar-for-dollar pledge by SFM and private donations to participants we can proudly say we've raised over $8,400 for Cerebral Palsy Alliance.

It is only through generous support that Cerebral Palsy Alliance can provide services, equipment, respite and therapy for children and adults with cerebral palsy. To donate, go to https://event.steptember.org.au/donate.

Love Sea Food, Love Port Stephens

The inaugural Love Sea Food festival was held in Port Stephens across the month of August. The community event aims to promote seafood and teach locals and visitors more about local industry. Activities throughout the month included cooking demonstrations by talented local chefs, wine and seafood matching events, dinner specials, appearances from special guests and oyster shucking competition.

The second weekend of August was a Fish & Fun weekend focused on free family events. The weekend consisted of seafood themed crafts, fish feeding, displays, touch tanks, a petting zoo, face painting and kids cooking classes.

SFM was in attendance at the event taking Sydney Seafood School on the Road for two days of cooking demonstrations and tastings hosted by Brigid Treloar and OceanWatch Executive Director Brad Warren.

Feedback from the event was positive with event organisers and visitors both eagerly anticipating the return of the event in the future.

Industry Visits

In August SFM’s Bryan Skepper, Erik Poole and Andrew Skelly travelled to North Queensland to attend the Prawn & Barramundi Aquaculture conference held in Townsville. After the conference Erik and Andrew took the opportunity to visit SFM suppliers from Townsville and then south to Mackay. A highlight of the trip was a visit to Geoff Campbell at Pioneer Valley Aquaculture, 30km west of Mackay. In a short amount of time Geoff has begun producing a very high quality product that has achieved consistent demand from SFM buyers.

In late August Andrew returned to North Queensland to catch up with many of our preferred suppliers in the Cairns area. The purpose of this visit was to conduct business reviews and have discussions that look at opportunities for business growth. Many of our key farmed Barramundi suppliers hail from this part of Queensland and all who were available were visited. In most cases these businesses have been built from scratch and are family operated.

Also in August, SFM’s Stephanie Williams and Kelly Seagrave travelled to Port Lincoln to attend the SA Seafood Express and Wildcatch Fisheries SA Inc 2016 Seafood Industry Dinner. Whilst in the Eyre Peninsula Stephanie and Kelly took the opportunity to meet with Cleanseas and visited the Kingfish pens as well as Myers Seafood for a tour of their processing plant.

Senator Ruston

Thursday 6th October, Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources, Senator the Hon. Anne Ruston visited SFM for a meet and greet tour of the auction. Lead by Bryan Skepper and Gus Dannoun, Senator Ruston talked with SFM staff, buyers and industry representatives to gain an understanding of the wholesale auction followed by a light breakfast at which Bryan took the opportunity to talk about SFM’s plans for redevelopment.

Sydney Fish Market Buyer’s Portal

In July the SFM IT department launched a new Buyer’s Portal for registered buyers.

The portal allows buyers to access invoices, weekly statements and GST statements. The portal also includes an auction catalogue of product available for the next auction. This is updated during the evening prior to auction and the morning of the auction as information becomes available.

The portal can be accessed by registered buyers by visiting portal.sydneyfishmarket.com.au.

For more information or assistance contact Nick Paton or Paul Ferrabetta by calling 02 9004 1100.

Save the Date - Seafood Directions 2017

The Australian Seafood Industry National Conference will be held at the ICC Sydney from the 27th to 29th of September 2017. Block off the dates in your calendar and we'll let you know more when details come to hand.