Ever wanted to see where Aquna comes from? If you’ve followed our story from the beginning, you’ll know sustainability is part of our DNA. You may have read about our sustainability performance and our sustainability awards. Aquna is listed as green in the GoodFish: Australia’s Sustainable seafood guide. In a sneak peek of our new video series, you can take a tour of Aquna’s sustainable farm in 2023!
In this video, Mat Ryan, our managing director, explains the importance of our industry-leading sustainability practices on our grow out farms in the Riverina: “Aquna’s goal has been to set the benchmark and be one of the most sustainable aquaculture producers in the world.”
Iconic fish master and chef Josh Niland speaks about why Aquna’s sustainable ethos is important to him: “Sustainability is the backbone of the business, which is where we’re really aligned.” In recent months, we’ve been sharing the many and varied Aquna recipes Josh has created to give home cooks inspiration to enjoy our fish.
Ready to watch a teaser of the new video?
Watch video
Recap: Aquna’s sustainability highlights
Feed conversion ratio (1.5:1): Lowest for all major protein groups.
Water reuse: Our land-based production model uses the same water twice — once through our fish ponds and then for irrigation or pasture on farms. 100% recycled.
Zero organic waste: Our Griffith-based processing plant diverts tonnes of organic waste from landfill through partnerships with local recyclers and pig farms.
Restocking: We participate in a government restocking program. To date, more than 20 million fingerlings have been released into the Murray-Darling river system.
Want to cook Aquna Murray Cod at home?
Aquna is available in select Coles stores and in 130 Woolworths stores throughout NSW, Victoria and the ACT. You’ll find Aquna in the take-home seafood section. Or, ask for Aquna at your local fish market retailer.
You’ll find it in the take-home seafood section.
Want to cook Aquna Murray Cod at your restaurant?
Keen to know more about Aquna Murray Cod? Have a conversation with us about your wholesale supply.
Romantic love, self-love, friendship: How will you be celebrating Valentine’s Day this year? As we embrace new traditions on 14 February, food remains an old favourite in expressing how we feel about someone. According to Dr Gary Chapman, author of The Five Love Languages: How to Express Heartfelt Commitment to Your Mate, food is associated with two of these love languages: “receiving gifts” and “acts of service”.
Enjoy Josh Niland’s Aquna Al Pastor Tacos like every day is Valentine’s Day! With a modern Mexican marinade matched with the firm texture and mild flavour of crispy-grilled Aquna Murray Cod fillets, when you want to share the love.
BBQ Aquna with Chimichurri Ox Heart Tomato and Peach Salad
Show off your barbecuing skills with something a little different. This feel-good recipe is a love match this Valentine’s Day, with interesting ingredients including the paring of tomato and peach in the salad.
Want to cook Aquna Murray Cod this Valentine’s Day?
Aquna is available in select Coles stores. Aquna is also in 150 Woolworths stores throughout NSW and Victoria. You’ll find Aquna in the take-home seafood section. Or, ask for Aquna at your local fish market retailer.
Want to cook Aquna Murray Cod at your restaurant?
Keen to know more about Aquna Murray Cod? Have a conversation with us about your wholesale supply.
Just when you thought the feasting was over after Christmas, Lunar New Year, also known as Chinese New Year, will be celebrated from this Sunday, 22 January 2023, with lots of delicious food traditions prepared, served and eaten in symbolic ways.
The holiday is observed by more than two billion people in Asian communities across the world, with many more respectfully embracing the cultural customs and food. Fish is a staple on the menu and is seen as a sign of abundance, prosperity, and good fortune.
Welcome in the Year of the Rabbit with your own Asian-inspired steamed whole Aquna recipe created by superstar chef Josh Niland. See the how-to video below for step-by-step instructions. First, what’s the symbolism behind steamed whole fish?
Symbolic ways to celebrate with steamed whole fish
Steamed whole fish is one of the most famous Lunar New Year recipes. The pronunciation of the Chinese word for ‘fish’ also means ‘being abundant’, which is why you’ll see platters of steamed whole fish at banquets and dinner tables.
Serving the whole fish — including the head and tail — is important, because it means you’ll get luck for the whole year ahead. For the dish to truly symbolise surplus, the fish should be the last meal left on the dinner table with some leftovers.
Aquna Murray Cod is a great choice for your Lunar New Year feast because the white-flesh fish holds together well when steamed. In this video, Josh Niland creates Drunken Aquna Murray Cod and Ginger Shallot from a 600-800g whole Aquna.
Want to cook Aquna Murray Cod this Lunar New Year?
Aquna is available in select Coles stores. Aquna is also in 150 Woolworths stores throughout NSW and Victoria. You’ll find Aquna in the take-home seafood section. Or, ask for Aquna at your local fish market retailer.
Want to cook Aquna Murray Cod at your restaurant?
Keen to know more about Aquna Murray Cod? Have a conversation with us about your wholesale supply.
The tree is up, the decorations are out — Christmas is just around the corner. What’s on your menu this holiday season? Gone are the days of spending long hours in the kitchen preparing a feast for family and friends.
Keeping it simple is the in-thing. That’s why iconic Australian Aquna Murray Cod is a great go-to wherever you’re entertaining. In our summer climate, nothing beats the natural, clean flavour of this piece of luxury. Plus, you can’t go wrong cooking with Aquna. Its texture will hold up, in every cooking situation you’ll be in over the holidays.
If you’re grilling on the barbecue, don’t throw the Murray cod straight on the bars. Place a cake rack on the grill and then put the fish on top. By doing that, you’ll be able to simply take the fish on and off.
While we all love cooking fillets of fish, cooking a whole fish on the bone allows you to access its beautiful natural gelatine. This gelatine carries the garnishes that you build around the flavours of the dish.
Try cooking with the skin on. While skin might not be everybody’s favourite and it might be something that you naturally peel off, try to leave it on because so much of the Omega 3 and the good fats are just beneath the skin’s surface. Even leave the skin on when steaming or poaching and peel off before serving – not only is this a good reference point to know if the fish is done, but also gives Murray cod so much more flavour.
It’s simple to grill a beautiful piece of Murray cod and pair it with a salad or a handful of chips, however it’s quite an extraordinary fish that can tolerate, carry and almost become better when built around robust flavours. I’ve always interpreted Aquna Murray Cod as either the best roast chicken you ever had or the best roast pork you ever had!
Think about what you would you serve with Sunday night roast chicken, and then apply the fish into that context. We’re talking beautiful rich gravy made from the bones, lovely peas and broad beans and asparagus that are all in season, and then into summertime, you could treat it like you would a roast porchetta and serve with stone fruits and cod-fat roast potatoes.
The concept of luxury is, and always will be, centered around an idea of exclusivity. However, the definition of luxury is changing. Millennials, Gen Y and Gen Z are demanding less waste, more accountability. Better quality, good for the planet. Now, the new definition of luxury revolves around values and responsibility.
The term luxury is no longer about status. It’s about being more conscious, more transparent, more knowledgeable. It’s our purpose that chefs and consumers find interesting about our product and brand. At Aquna, we believe luxury is about quality over quantity, sustainability, health and innovation … and being inventive.
Image: Aquna is available at Fish Shoppe, Melbourne (pictured) and other select market retailers.
Fish fat candles and soap
Who would have ever considered fish fat a luxury? Well, thanks to the inventive mindsets of restaurateur and chef Josh Niland and partner, Julie, the candle and soap, pictured, have been developed using repurposed Aquna Murray Cod fish fat.
Luxury is about a sense of responsibility. At Aquna, it’s our mission to make a positive impact on people’s plates — and the planet! Always looking to improve our farming practices, it’s exciting for us to have been announced as winners of the Sustainability category at the 2022 Premier’s NSW Export Awards.
Now, we’re finalists in the 60th Australian Export Awards national program! We’ll be waving the flag for sustainable farming and aquaculture at the award ceremony held on Thursday, 24 November 2022 at Parliament House in Canberra.
Packed with health benefits
The modern understanding of luxury includes holistic wellbeing — prioritising health in a fast-paced world. The new definition of luxury involves people taking care of themselves.Body, soul and spirit should be in harmony with one another. Packed full of health benefits, Aquna is a low-energy source of protein and a good source of omega-3 fatty acids — a type of healthy fat our bodies can’t produce.
Aquna, a piece of luxury… redefined.
Want to cook Aquna Murray Cod at home?
Aquna is available in select Coles stores. Aquna is also in 150 Woolworths stores throughout NSW and Victoria, along with select Harris Farm Market stores in NSW. You’ll find it in the take-home seafood section.
Want to sample Aquna Murray Cod at your restaurant?
Keen to know more about Aquna Murray Cod? Have a conversation with us about your wholesale supply.
Australia’s Oktoberfest in the Gardens back in 2022 — an event inspired by the love of the food, drink and culture of traditional Bavarian festivities. Who doesn’t love an excuse to dust off their dirndl and lace up their lederhosen? With beer the highlight of Oktoberfest, when it comes to food pairings, a cold ale goes brilliantly with Aquna.
Matched well, the right brew elevates and accentuates the flavour of seafood. Fish can pair with nearly every type of beer. In this article, you’ll learn more about a few types of beer to team up with your next Aquna dish. So, in the time-honoured tradition of Oktoberfest, let’s raise a glass together in the celebration. Prost! (Or cheers, in English).
Pair these “beers” with Aquna
1. Pale ale
Pale ale is a golden to amber-coloured beer style brewed with pale malt. Easy drinking and usually fruity, any pale-coloured beer works well with beer-battered fish, like Aquna. See our Aquna fish and chips how-to video, below.
2. Seltzer
Seltzer is basically carbonated water. Hard seltzer is carbonated water combined with alcohol and fruit flavouring. It’s on-trend right now, popular for its bubbly, low-calorie qualities and is considered a staple at summer barbecues.
3. Ginger beer
Traditional ginger beer is a sweetened and carbonated, usually non-alcoholic beverage. A good ginger beer is super refreshing, especially in summer. Ginger beer is also popular for battering fish and making delicious sauces.
Aquna fish and chips: How-to video
Watch the following video for your step-by-step guide on how to prepare the Aquna fish and chips recipe for your Oktoberfest celebration.
Want to cook Aquna Murray Cod at home?
Aquna is available in select Coles stores. Aquna is also in 150 Woolworths stores throughout NSW and Victoria, along with select Harris Farm Market stores in NSW. You’ll find it in the take-home seafood section.
Want to sample Aquna Murray Cod at your restaurant?
Keen to know more about Aquna Murray Cod? Have a conversation with us about your wholesale supply.
Following a wet and wild winter in Australia, spring has finally sprung.
You can feel the optimism in the air. With brighter and warmer days to enjoy, entertaining family and friends is back on the agenda, finally. Spring entertaining is all about light and fresh seasonal ingredients — and getting together in the great outdoors. Just perfect.
What’s new on the menu?
Surprise and delight your friends and family with this easy and delicious Baked Aquna dip with celery, horseradish and capers. Homemade dips are a fabulous way to boost your nutrient intake. Plus, it’ll be a big hit with your guests, who will love the texture and divine combination of flavours.
It’s been a whirlwind start to the award season for Aquna Murray Cod. We’re thrilled to share with you news about the following two awards.
2022 Premier’s NSW Export Awards
We’re excited to be among the finalists for the 2022 Premier’s NSW Export Awards in the Sustainability category.Congratulations to the amazing Aquna team and fellow finalists! The Premier’s NSW Export Awards Gala Award Ceremony will be held on 12 October in Sydney Town Hall, where category winners will be announced. We’ll keep you posted.
2022 Sydney Royal Fine Food Show
Aquna Hot Smoked Murray Cod has been announced as Champion in the Fine Foods Smoked/Cured Product category at the 2022 Sydney Royal Fine Food Show at a gala event on 20 September. While we don’t currently sell Hot Smoked, chefs love this product and we’re planning to launch into the consumer market in 2023! Plus, we’re thrilled to have been awarded two bronze medals in the Fresh Fish categories, along with GOLD in the Smoked/Cured Product category for our Aquna Hot Smoked Murray Cod at the 2022 Sydney Royal Fine Food Show. While our Hot Smoked product isn’t widely available yet, chefs LOVE it. We’re planning to launch it more broadly in 2023!
What great results!
Want to cook Aquna Murray Cod at home?
Aquna is available in select Coles stores. Aquna is also in 150 Woolworths stores throughout NSW and Victoria, along with select Harris Farm Market stores in NSW. You’ll find it in the take-home seafood section.
Want to sample Aquna Murray Cod at your restaurant?
Keen to know more about Aquna Murray Cod? Have a conversation with us about your wholesale supply.
Americans have always been a little intrigued by Australians — our rugged landscape, our snakes, our crocodiles, and our kangaroos. While they’re still coming to grips with the taste of our beloved Vegemite, we’re pleased to say the US market is embracing the flavour of our Aquna Murray Cod.
In this article, you’ll hear from LA-based Brock Miller (pictured), our head of development in North America and former chef, about cracking the US market in 2018 with an iconic Australian freshwater fish completely unknown to American chefs and consumers.
Now, Aquna Sustainable Murray Cod is catching on.
Q. When did Aquna launch into the US market?
A. Aquna has been available off and on in the US since 2018 but we’ve been officially available since 2020.
Q. What do chefs and consumers love about Aquna?
A. Chefs and consumers love the rich, buttery flavour of Aquna. Plus, they appreciate the many different ways Aquna can be cooked. They’re also blown away by the consistency of our fish.
Q. What are they most interested in about our fish?
A. They’re most interested in our sustainable farming practices, the wonderful flavour profile of the fish, and its amazing fat content.
Q. What questions do you get asked most about Aquna?
A. The questions I get asked the most about our fish from chefs is the consistency in sizing and availability.
Q. How do you describe Aquna to customers and wholesalers?
Q. Where does Aquna currently feature on the menu in the US?
A. We’re currently featured in many Michelin-star rated restaurants in Chicago, New York and Los Angeles, as well as other fine-dining restaurants in Houston, Dallas and in Austin, Texas.
Q. What’s the plan for Aquna in the US moving forward?
A. Going forward, we plan to continue the education process in our current markets, as well as expanding our reach to other markets in the US. We have a food show lined up in September to showcase our product.
Got any questions? Say g’day to Brock
Send an email with your question or enquiry: brock@aquna.com
Oh in-person events, we’ve missed you! After a two-year hiatus, the team at Aquna loved the buzz of being back at the Good Food & Wine Show in Sydney and Melbourne, where we got to share the Aquna story and hear important and direct feedback from consumers about our fish.
This is how we learn — and improve.
For many consumers, it was the first time they’d tried Aquna Murray Cod, tossed in rice flour and deep fried (with sea salt and a squeeze of lemon), for the full-flavour experience. You can re-create a similar recipe at home. The messages we took away from the event were consistent. There’s strong interest in the provenance of Aquna and our commitment to sustainable farming.
Plus, the taste of Aquna. Here’s how it’s described:
“Light, fresh — really nice.”
“Clean, succulent — very nice.”
“It’s far superior to any other fish.”
“The texture of the fish is amazing.”
WATCH the short video to see what others have to say, including the non-fish eaters, who have some surprising and wonderful feedback.
It’s winter here in Australia, and the weather has been mind-blowingly cold. You’re not imagining the crisp conditions. It’s been an unusually chilly start to the season, particularly for the south-east. So, what can we do when the temperature drops, and the days become shorter and darker? Keep cosy and enjoy wonderful winter warmer recipes featuring Aquna.
In this article, you’ll find five comfort recipes featuring Aquna that’ll lift your mood and motivation during the cooler winter months. Get started with a new recipe, packed with flavour and all the goodness of Aquna Murray Cod.
With a delicious combination of flavours, this new Aquna recipe is easy to cook for a healthy midweek meal. The sweet and savoury of cranberries and olives, together with the crunch of pine nuts, will give you something to look forward to after being rugged up in your winter woolies all day.
Who doesn’t love a piping hot pie in winter? The humble meat pie has long been a tradition at winter sporting events, this upmarket version will warm you up on the inside and could turn out to be your go-to comfort food. For a homemade fish pie the family will devour, give this one a try.
Whoa, these beauties are exactly what you need on a rainy winter’s day. Bite-size and crispy on the outside, Aquna Murray Cod doughnuts are the ultimate winter warmer for a snack, entree, or just because you want to eat something truly comforting and crunchy any time of day.
Sometimes, you just want to enjoy the simple things in life. This recipe is all about Aquna. With just a dusting of rice flour, you’ll love the clean flavour of the fish and almost zero preparation time, for night’s when you want to head straight for your favuorite spot in front of the fireplace.
Butter is pure comfort food, don’t you think? This recipe is the perfect winter entertainer. Your family and friends will love, love, love the texture, taste of the whole-fish experience. Plus, you’ll find it surprisingly easy to pull together for your next get-together during winter.
