Narooma Rocks and the Narooma Oyster Festival have been named a finalist in the prestigious Sydney Fish Market Seafood Excellence Awards 2024 for its unwavering commitment to showcasing New South Wales native food, the Rock Oyster.
The Seafood Excellence Awards showcase the seafood industry’s top players across 11 categories for their contribution to the economy, professionalism and commitment to supplying high quality seafood to local, national and international markets.
Narooma Rocks Chair Cath Peachey said the nomination in the Promotion Award category recognised the enormous efforts of the committee and the community to deliver the iconic festival, which is now regarded as the biggest food and wine event in southern New South Wales and a ‘must-do’ for an increasing number of national and international foodies and sommeliers.
“The event attracts approximately 10,000 festival goers and serves around 70,000 oysters to adoring foodies, along with showcasing the rock oyster industry and other celebrated local and regional seafoods like lobster, sea urchin, tuna, kingfish and kelp,” she said.
“We are really proud that our story and the festival’s diverse range of experiences are resonating with the public and helping to raise the profile of the rock oyster and its growers,” she said. “Last year’s media reach of 4 billion is testament to the fascination and desire people have for the oyster and we were delighted to be able to convert that into a $3.4 million injection into the regional economy.”
Festival drawcards include the Ultimate Oyster Experience masterclasses, Oyster Farmers Alley, Australia’s Oyster Shucking Championships and Australia’s Biggest Oyster. Producers, winemakers, brewers and distillers also flock to the festival with almost 100 lining-up to be part of the 2024 event on May 3 & 4.
“It presents a unique opportunity for both festival goers and growers to come together, over a sophisticated deep dive into merroir and rock oyster estuaries in those masterclasses to tasting oysters directly from the farmers in Oyster Farmer’s Alley as well as elevated dining experiences and produce markets.”
“The wild excitement of the shucking championships is particularly effective at celebrating the rock oyster as we sponsor the winner to attend the World Oyster Opening Championships in Ireland which takes our messaging into the heart of the United Kingdom’s oyster industry and through that to Europe too.”
“Whether we come away with a win or simply celebrate being a finalist on April 23, we are delighted to represent our unique blend of agritourism with a great cohort of passionate champions of Australian seafood. It’s a wonderful opportunity to raise the profile of the NSW South Coast and the rock oyster in yet another way.”
Sydney Fish Market CEO Greg Dyer said the biennial Awards is something he always looks forward to as it offers a great opportunity to recognise the contributions of those in the industry.
“The Seafood Excellence Awards pay tribute to every facet of the seafood industry, from ocean to plate,” he said.
“We’re proud of the individuals and organisations that work hard to ensure Australia’s global reputation as a producer of premium seafood is maintained, and welcome this opportunity to recognise their efforts.
Winners will be announced on April 23.
