April 29th, 2020 by Tiff B
Aquna Sustainable Murray Cod secures position as worlds largest Murray cod producer
Aquna Sustainable Murray Cod (Aquna) has today acquired a fully operational and staffed Murray cod hatchery and property located in New South Wales (NSW).
For managing director, Mat Ryan, acquiring Australia’s largest Murray cod hatchery ensures we are able to continue to meet our increased capacity requirements and sustainability goals.
“At Aquna our goal is to have an impact on people’s plates and the planet, and our new hatchery purchase helps us to achieve this goal.”
“We’re currently expanding our clean farms to keep pace with domestic and global demand and the new hatchery ensures we can increase our fingerling production by a factor of approximately 2.5 times.
“At the same time, in line with our sustainability objectives, MCA will become the largest supplier of native fingerlings for restocking programs in NSW, Victoria and South Australia,” Mr Ryan said.
Formerly known as Murray Darling Fisheries Pty Ltd (MDF), Aquna’s new hatchery is a long established, reputable hatchery that has been supplying Murray cod, as well as Golden and Silver Perch fingerlings to local and export markets for over 22 years.
The hatchery is located in Euberta, a farming community in the productive Riverina area of NSW, on a 75-acre property which is approximately 150 kilometres from the Aquna’s existing hatchery site.
The acquisition means Aquna is now the worlds largest producer of the iconic Murray cod and between our two hatcheries, have released over 20 million fingerlings into the river system.
February 27th, 2020 by Tiff B
MasterChef’s Steph de Sousa takes a deep dive into Aquna Sustainable Murray Cod
Steph de Sousa graced our screens on MasterChef series 11 in 2019. The world fell in love with her warm, affectionate personality and funky glasses.
Here at Aquna Sustainable Murray Cod (Aquna), we were lucky enough to meet and spend time with Steph at last year’s Melbourne and Sydney Good Food and Wine Shows where we introduced Steph to all things Aquna and fell in love with her too!
Steph has become a fan of our delicious fresh and Hot Smoked Aquna Murray Cod and recently sat down with our Business Development Executive, Ian Charles for a chat to find out why life tastes better with Aquna Sustainable Murray Cod. There chat is currently featured on her podcast The Last Supper.
Join them as they take a deep dive into all things Aquna. From our name, history and taste right through to cooking, versatility and future plans. The Last Supper podcast is available here.
Take a wild guess as to what Ian’s dream last supper would be…
December 16th, 2019 by Tiff B
Just dropped – Aquna Hot Smoked Murray Cod is now available!
Just in time for Christmas, Aquna Hot Smoked Murray Cod has officially hit the market. Our award-winning smoked Murray cod has a balanced light flavour, firm texture and a delicious aftertaste that lingers and makes you want to go back for more.
The perfect addition to your festive menu, Aquna Hot Smoked Murray Cod has a creamy white flesh and pairs perfectly with a wide variety of dishes.
According to Heston Blumenthal, Aquna Murray Cod takes to smoking fantastically well, because of the levels of gelatin and good fat integration into the flesh. Fat holds flavour, and the flavour of the smoke comes through beautifully.
We’ve been told that it’s the best tasting smoked fish in the world – now you can judge for yourself!
First off, Sydney-siders can get their hands on some smoked Murray cod at:
Bondi Fruitologist
Cons Deli
Fresh Farm Foods
Forestway Fresh
Harbord Growers Market
Maloneys Grocer
Panettas Mercato
Parisis Food Hall
Melburnians can head to:
Boccaccios
Feast Deli, Café & Wine Bar
Plus, if you’re in Canberra you can find it at Deli Planet Fyshwick Markets.
Finally, if you’re in the Riverina, don’t forget our retail store at 15A Lenehan Road, Griffith.
For everyone else, we are working like crazy behind the scenes to get our delicious Aquna Hot Smoked Murray Cod to your plate ASAP!
November 25th, 2019 by Tiff B
Wow, what an honour! Aquna Sustainable Murray Cod is absolutely delighted to announce that we have taken out the top prize at the NSW Business Chamber annual awards, being named NSW business of the Year.
Aquna also took out the highly coveted NSW Excellence in Sustainability award.
Announced at a gala event in Sydney on Friday night, the double-win is a testament to the Aquna team who work tirelessly towards our vision of setting the environmental sustainability benchmark globally for the aquaculture industry.
For Chairman Ross Anderson, it was a privilege to accept the awards.
To have our team recognised as NSW Business of the Year for our sustainability credentials out of 800,000 businesses in NSW is a testament to the hard-working people behind Aquna.
“As we continue to build and grow our business, we’re constantly finding new and better ways to be sustainable, he said.”
Aquna’s philosophy, Life tastes better our way, was crafted to capture what the business stands for, which includes finding a better way to deliver food security through sustainable aquaculture.
While Aquna has implemented world-leading sustainable practices across the entire organisation, it’s the community work that the Griffith-based business is doing, that makes Mr Anderson the proudest.
“We’re participating in a state government-restocking program. We breed and raise the Murray cod fingerlings in our hatchery, which are released into the Murray-Darling Basin, Mr Anderson said”
“More than one million of our fingerlings have been released into the river system.”
“Last month, we rescued 44 large Murray cod from the Darling River near Pooncarie. We will house and care for these fish until the river recovers enough that they can be safely returned to their original home, he concluded.”
November 1st, 2019 by Tiff B
Aquna Sustainable Murray Cod (Aquna) has today cut the ribbon on its flagship retail store, right here in our hometown of Griffith, NSW.
More than a year in the making, Aquna Managing Director, Mathew Ryan is proud to be now offering our produce to locals and visitors alike.
“Our rapid expansion since listing on the ASX in January 2017, has seen us develop new markets across Australia and the globe and a retail space at our new processing and filleting facility, is a natural next step for us.”
“Our local community have been really supportive of Aquna and we want to be sure they have consistent access to our products, which is why we chose Griffith as the location for our first retail store, Mat added.”
Visitors are invited to sample and purchase our delicious Murray cod products and discover why some of the world’s leading chefs are in love with our locally produced Aquna Murray Cod.
The new chapter for Aquna Sustainable Murray Cod means we can now offer a wider range of delicious products, including:
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- Whole Aquna Murray cod
- Hot Smoked Aquna Murray Cod
- Loin fillets, skin on
- Belly strips, skin on
- Tail pieces, skin on
- Sashimi grade trimmed loin.
Located at 15A Leneham Road Griffith, the Aquna store is open Monday to Friday 10am to 4pm.
Come and see what all the fuss is about..!
Contact us for wholesale and stockist enquiries.
September 24th, 2019 by Tiff B
We’re excited to announce that Aquna Sustainable Murray Cod (Aquna) has been recognised for our commitment to sustainability, winning the Excellence in Sustainability Award – one of 14 categories at the NSW Business Chamber Murray-Riverina Awards.
Announced at a gala event in Temora, the award win is a tribute to the whole Aquna team who are dedicated to setting the environmental sustainability benchmark globally for the aquaculture industry.
For Director Roger Commins, it was an honour to accept the award.
“At Aquna, we want to have a positive impact on people’s plates and the planet,” Mr Commins said. “We are very proud to be recognised for such a prestigious award amongst a pool of incredible and diverse finalists.”
Aquna Managing Director Mat Ryan said that since listing on the stock exchange in January 2017, the entire Aquna team have set their sights on finding a better way to deliver food security through sustainable aquaculture.
“In a relatively short period of time, we have managed to implement world-leading sustainable practices across our entire business,” he said.
Aquna’s recent sustainability achievements include:
Hatchery
- In our hatchery, breeding fish for our aquaculture program is now sourced from our own farm-raised stock. This means we’re self-sufficient – no fish are taken from the wild.
- We’re participating in a state government-restocking program. We breed and raise the Murray cod fingerlings in our hatchery, which are released into the Murray-Darling Basin. More than one million of our fingerlings have been released into the river system.
Ponds (grow out farms)
- Our land-based production model uses the same irrigation water twice – once through our fish ponds, then for crop irrigation or pastures on farms. As far as we’re aware, we’re the only pond-based aquaculture business in the world using a 100 per cent water recycling system.
- Our feeding strategy is producing a Feeding Conversion Ratio (FCR) of 1.2:1. This is an exceptional result and means we grow efficient fish, which use the least amount of protein (feed) to produce the most amount of protein.
Processing plant
- Our local processing plant aims to produce zero-waste. This is achieved through a partnership with a local organic recycler, who recycles and reuses all fish waste created at the facility.
Community
- Our sustainable vision extends to the communities that we operate in. With reports of more than one million fish deaths along a 40-kilometre stretch of the Darling River in early 2019, Aquna joined forces with the community to prevent further fish kills. We donated aerators that were installed on separate properties to force oxygen into the sick river and assist with preventing further fish deaths.
Aquna will now proceed to the NSW finals, which will be announced at a Gala Dinner on Friday 22 November at ICC Sydney.
July 30th, 2019 by Tiff B
A beloved native fish with a fine dining following in Australia and Asia, Aquna Sustainable Murray Cod is now available in the US exclusively through San Francisco-based sustainable seafood company CleanFish. Enthusiastic first adopters of the fish include Chef Cedric Vongerichten at his Indonesian inspired restaurant Wayan in New York City.
“We’re delighted to bring this one-of-a-kind fish to North America,” said Mike Moniz, CleanFish Managing Director. “Aquna Murray Cod is a notable addition to CleanFish’s portfolio of the best of sustainable aquaculture, and the involvement of Heston Blumenthal makes this a must-try product for chefs in search of what’s next.”
“In a food scene as big and as diverse as what the US offers, there’s always room for a product that’s truly exceptional. Our lack of a single guiding food tradition means that we’re open to unique flavors from around the world. American chefs and consumers are continuously on the look-out for what’s new, and Aquna Murray Cod brings a fresh new experience to seafood. We anticipate the fish finding a home on menus in top metropolitan areas from fine dining to sushi, Mike said.”
Founded in 2004, with offices in San Francisco and Boston, CleanFish exists to connect the best seafood producers with chefs, diners and home cooks. CleanFish, are committed to aquaculture as an essential part of a sustainable future, and they advocate for the best, most innovative practices.
On the move into the US, Aquna Managing Director, Mat Ryan, said he is delighted to see Aquna Sustainable Murray Cod entering into the US through a partnership with CleanFish, who share our sustainable and responsible farming philosophy.
“Aquna currently exports to Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong and Macau, and I see the US as a natural next step for Aquna Murray Cod, Mat concluded.
For more information about stocking Aquna Sustainable Murray Cod in the US contact CleanFish.
June 25th, 2019 by Tiff B
At Aquna Sustainable Murray Cod, a commitment to sustainability is embedded in our corporate identity, business practices and culture. We want to have a positive impact on people’s plates and the planet. Our business tagline, Life tastes better our way, was crafted to capture what we stand for, which includes finding a better way to deliver food security through sustainable aquaculture.
Here is our sustainability story, so far.
Hatchery
In our hatchery, breeding fish for our aquaculture program is now sourced from our own farm-raised stock. This means we’re self-sufficient – no fish is taken from the wild.
Our contribution to fish restocking programs in the region is significant. We return broodfish to the wild, which goes above and beyond our requirements as permit holders.
Currently, we’re participating in a state government restocking program. We breed and raise the Murray cod fingerlings in our hatchery, which are released into the Murray-Darling Basin. More than one million of our fingerlings have been released into the river system.
We only use organic fertilisers to produce plankton to raise our juvenile fish.
Nursery
Our nursery is becoming more energy efficient with new technology, from generating ongoing savings on electricity usage for aeration to reducing our reliance on power from the grid through continual investment in solar panels.
In 2018 we installed solar panels for renewable energy production at our Bilbul nursery, where our fish are kept in recirculated tanks until they are approximately 100g or 120mm long. Approximately 50 per cent of total nursery energy is currently provided by solar power.
Our team are constantly working on better feeding strategies and have embarked on developing diets that are better suited to maximising growth at the same time as ensuring fish welfare by using a diet designed to better manage disease control and water quality for our fish.
Ponds (grow out farms)
Our land-based production model uses the same irrigation water twice – once through our fish ponds, then for crop irrigation or pastures on farms. As far as we’re aware, we’re the only pond-based aquaculture business in the world using a 100 per cent water recycling system. The nutrients in this recycled water offer a saving on the use of other fertilisers.
Through closer monitoring of our ponds, we have reduced our water use by 50 per cent in the last 12-months.
Our feeding strategy is producing a Feeding Conversion Ratio (FCR) of 1:2:1. This is an exceptional result and means we grow efficient fish, which use the least amount of protein (feed) to produce the most amount of protein.
Processing plant
Our local processing plant where we produce two products – Hot Smoked Aquna Murray Cod and Aquna fillets, aims to produce zero-waste. This is achieved through a partnership with a local organic recycler, who recycles and reuses all fish waste created at the facility.
We are constantly trying to package our product into the most environmentally responsible solution through using bulk freight and where possible, recyclable and returnable containers. We are currently talking to suppliers about using insulated cardboard based alternatives instead of traditional seafood shipping methods.
Social
The Aquna team represents an almost even gender balance of talented men and women. While the agriculture industry is slowly embracing the participation of women in leadership and decision-making roles, we’re proactively recruiting women across the business.
There is no gender gap at Aquna, which sets the foundation for an inclusive workplace.
Community
Our sustainable vision extends to the communities that we operate in. With reports of more than one million fish deaths along a 40-kilometre stretch of the Darling River in early 2019, Aquna joined forces with the community to prevent further fish kills. We donated aerators that were installed on separate properties to force oxygen into the sick river and assist with preventing further fish deaths.
As part of our annual restocking program, Aquna supports several angling groups to assist them with restocking the area.
May 29th, 2019 by Tiff B
The appointment of worlding-leading chef, Heston Blumenthal, as a shareholder and key advocate at Aquna Sustainable Murray Cod created quite a stir last week. The story, which made international headlines, has sparked a surge of new interest in our luxury product.
“Since the announcement, we’ve been getting enquiries from chefs who have read about the new partnership with Heston in the news, and value his endorsement of our product. It is an exciting time for the business,” said Mat Ryan, managing director, Aquna.
Heston, and his team of world-class chefs, will collaborate with Aquna on menu and product development to extend the food brand’s reach in local and global markets. If life tasted better our way previously, the bar has been lifted even higher with Heston on board.
“Heston’s a pioneer in the global food industry. His imaginative and inventive ideas align perfectly with the innovative ethos that underpins our quality product. He will play a key part in the future growth of our business,” said Ross Anderson, chairman, Aquna.
Heston, OBE, together with his team in the UK and Australia, will showcase Aquna Sustainable Murray Cod through the group’s social media networks, and where appropriate, at events and in their restaurants. It is a great fit for the three-starred Michelin chef.
“The innovative way Aquna has created a luxury fish product by combining natural processes, evolved over millions of years, with cutting-edge technology connects with the way I approach food and cooking, resulting in fantastic quality,” he said.
Aquna’s Heston connection will be unveiled for the first time at The Melbourne Good Food and Wine Show from Friday 31 May – Sunday 2 June, with the brand’s new-look exhibition space incorporating this instantly recognisable image (hero image) of the high-profile chef.
April 29th, 2019 by Tiff B
If you’ve followed our story from the beginning, you’ll know our award-winning team of Riverina-based producers has built an aquaculture business from scratch, more than 500 kilometres from the nearest ocean.
It is a tale of how innovation, technology and hard work has combined to create Aquna Sustainable Murray Cod, a fine-dining fish sought-after by chefs in restaurants throughout Australia and around the world.
Now, as more food enthusiasts choose our premium brand of Murray cod, we’re keen for everyone to see exactly where we come from, our connection to the environment, and world-leading farming practices – from pond to plate.
Thanks to regional storyteller, Nathan Dyer, get up close and personal with the people, places and ponds that make up Aquna Sustainable Murray Cod.
