Pictured: Tunarama
April’s South Australian Seafood Awards saw the industry’s best of the best come together to celebrate big business, hidden gems, and everything in between.
Held at Morphettville, the 2026 awards brought together the state’s best fishers, producers, retailers and hospitality operators for a night that celebrated the people keeping South Australia’s seafood industry afloat. From freshly shucked oysters and lobster rolls to live tuna carving and sashimi stations, it was quite literally a reel good time.
Among the biggest catches of the night were three standout winners with distinctly South Australian stories.
Port Lincoln’s beloved Tunarama Festival hooked the title of Best Seafood Experience. For years, Tunarama has been attracting crowds to the Eyre Peninsula with its appealing combination of seafood, family fun, and, of course, the legendary tuna toss. Tunarama is a celebration of Port Lincoln’s rich fishing heritage and its connection to the sea. This award really does prove that Tunarama is still the biggest fish in the festival pond.
Tunarama
Boutique producer Little Tin Co took home Small Business of the Year, a remarkable achievement for the artisan pâté maker. The idea for Little Tin Co came along five years ago, when owners Rachel and Dan spent three months as volunteer caretakers on a remote island in Bass Strait during the height of the pandemic. Forced to bring all of their food with them, they found themselves eating a lot of imported tinned seafood. This experience sparked an idea to create a better version of what they were eating, something made in Australia.
The business has grown ever since and is now known for its beautifully crafted seafood pâtés and tinned delicacies. The team found a unique niche in Australia’s food scene by combining premium South Australian seafood with traditional preservation techniques and elegant presentation, building a loyal following among food lovers and gourmet retailers. It’s proof that sometimes, the best things really do come in small tins.
Little Tin Co.
Adelaide Central Market favourite SiSea was another big winner, taking home Restaurant of the Year. Located in one of Adelaide’s most beloved food destinations (now named the third best in the world), SiSea has quietly become a go-to for impeccably fresh seafood and expertly prepared dishes.
“For a small business inside one of the greatest markets in the world, it’s a huge honour to be selected like that,” shared SiSea co-owner Mark Gleeson. “But it’s not just an honour for me, it’s more an honour for all the people who work in the business. The chefs, the front of house, the dishwasher, everybody on our team. There are about 15 people who work at SiSea, and I feel like they’ve been working towards something really fantastic and have achieved a great thing.”
For locals in the know, it’s hardly a surprise. For everyone else, consider this your sign to visit. A hidden gem? Perhaps. A well-kept secret? Not anymore.
SiSea
The awards themselves were a showcase of South Australia’s world-class seafood industry. Guests were greeted by a blue carpet before enjoying live music, canapés, oysters shucked to order, sashimi sliced on the spot, and lobster rolls prepared fresh.
One of the night’s most unforgettable moments saw whole tuna and kingfish expertly carved before being sent directly upstairs, where celebrated chef Tony Ford transformed the fish into dishes in real time.
With a record 75 submissions assessed by 12 independent judges, the competition was fiercer than ever. Other major winners included Yumbah Aquaculture, Cape Calamari, SA Seafood Express, Coorong Wild Seafood, and The Fresh Fish Place, which claimed Best Fish N’ Chips of the Year.
The evening also honoured industry legend Andrew Puglisi, who was inducted into the South Australian Seafood Industry Hall of Fame.
So from Port Lincoln to Adelaide Central Market, these awards prove South Australia’s seafood industry continues to get better and better. And if this year’s winners are anything to go by, the future is looking very, very fintastic.
SA Seafood Awards 2026 Winners
Large Primary Producer of the Year
Yumbah Aquaculture
Small Primary Producer of the Year
Cape Calamari
Large Business of the Year
SA Seafood Express
Small Business of the Year
Little Tin Co
Best Research, Development and Extension Project
SARDI Oceanography Team
Best People Development Champion
Angel Oysters
Health and Safety Champion
Yumbah Aquaculture
Environment Champion
Angel Oysters
Restaurant of the Year
SiSea
Best Retail and Seafood Promotion
Coorong Wild Seafood
Best Seafood Experience
City of Port Lincoln Tunarama Festival
Best Fish N’ Chips of the Year
The Fresh Fish Place
Outstanding Achiever of the Year
Jack Henderson, Henderson Seafoods
Appreciation of Service
Brian Jefferies
Bart Butson
Craig Fletcher
Iain Evans
Adam Main
South Australian Seafood Industry Hall of Fame
Andrew Puglisi
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