Coorong fishing company pivots, offering unique tourism experiences while battling algal bloom fallout

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Images via Coorong Wildside Tours

With the challenges of the algal bloom hitting many marine businesses along our coastline, one fishing company in the Coorong has taken it as an opportunity for change. Meningie-based seafood business Coorong Wild Seafood is drawing on its marine knowledge to offer tours of the region.

The sister business, Coorong Wildside Tours, is helping income streams for the couple behind the venture, while the fishing industry remains challenging after the algal bloom.

“Coorong Wildside Tours has been slowly building momentum and we expect to make it more of a focus in 2026,” says Tracy Hill, who runs both business with her husband Glen.

“We have been very lucky and are slowly improving, but we haven’t made a complete recovery yet. It has taken time for some consumers to regain their confidence in purchasing.”

Although their seafood remained safe to eat and still is, the bloom created a false public perception, impacting the sales of their most popular fish, Coorong Mullet.

So, the addition of tourism to their seafood production business was made it easier, and with the state government’s Coast is Calling tourism voucher initiative, Glen and Tracy were able to offer a look into how the business’s local delicacy is caught and processed.

There are multiple tour options to choose from which include different themes to sink into.

The Coorong Wildlife Tour is a half-day tour offering a scenic boat journey from Long Point Jetty to the Tauwitchere Barrage, with close-up wildlife encounters, informative commentary and a gourmet morning tea among the sandhills.

Within the Dine the Coorong experience, guests enjoy a five-course dining experience featuring local seafood, regional produce and native ingredients, set against Coorong views from the Hills’ residence overlooking Gibby’s Bay.

Try your hand at being a fisherman in the Coorong Deckhand Experience, where you’ll get a personal lesson on setting and retrieving gear, catching a fish and enjoying the great outdoors. Discover the secrets of the Coorong in the National Park Tour where guests are guided by boat, to take a deeper dive into what below the surface.

Tour the processing factory in the Coorong Wild Seafood Tour which also includes a filleting demonstration and tastings of fresh and smoked Coorong mullet, alongside the history of the business and practical seafood cooking tips.

An immersive Wild Beach Adventure tour beginning at Parnka Point will take you across the Younghusband Peninsula to the wild Southern Ocean, with wildlife spotting, cultural history and stories along the way.

There is also the option of adding additional items to each tours such as a group lunch, cooking class, smoking your own fish and other experiences.

What surprised the couple most was the popularity of their seafood lunches, developed for the Coast is Calling scheme. “It is clear people are interested in where their food comes from and how best to cook it,” Tracy said.

Although the new business venture has made some additional income for the couple, especially by being part of government initiatives, it hasn’t fully offset the losses received over the past six months.

“We were grateful to receive an Algal Bloom Fisheries and Aquaculture Grant which helped pay the backlog of bills and retain our staff. However some are still on restricted hours most weeks until we’re back to full production.

“There are still some challenges to overcome,” she said.

Looking ahead, the pair has committed to buying a food van, in the hopes of attending things like markets and events around the community, allowing them to sell products and cook food around the region.

“We are also confident that the food van will be a hit once we are operational,” Tracy said. “As soon as that is ready for business, expect to see us out and about. We would also be available for catering private functions.”

Their new business model wouldn’t be possible without changes in their structure and delegating more fishing activities to their son-in-law to free up more time for Glen, who focuses on guiding the tours. If all goes well, the company hopes to take on an additional staff member.

“We are constantly looking at ways of increasing our seafood sales and distribution. The competition is fierce because everyone else is doing the same.

“So we have to be nimble and look for gaps in the market, but what we don’t do is compromise on our quality and service.”

In 2024 Coorong Wild Seafood was recognised in the state seafood industry award for best seafood experience. The achievement was made possible through the support of the community, along with backing from marine and regional businesses and the people still visiting the coastal areas.

“It really meant a lot to Glen and me.

“Fingers crossed this sad chapter of the algal bloom is behind us now and we can look forward to a great seafood future in South Australia.”

Coorong Wildside Tours
Where: 476A Seven Mile Road, Meningie SA 5264
For more info or to book, click here.