ABOUT SEA BOUNTY
Founder of Sea Bounty Lance Wiffen, has been involved in the fishing industry for over 30 yearsSea Bounty has grown to be one of Australia’s leading mussel growing and processing companies.
Sea Bounty farms mussels at a number of sites in the cool, clear waters of Port Phillip Bay, serviced by a fleet of specially equipped marine fishing vessels. A modern processing plant, located at Breakwater Geelong, operates to the highest standards, ensuring Sea Bounty’s reputation for top quality product.
Portarlington Mussel Tours
A long time dream of mussel farmer, Lance Wiffen, has finally come true. In April 2023, this intimate and boutique experience allows guests to head out to the mussel farms, in the boutique comfort of a beautifully restored Huon Pine vessel. Enjoy cooking demonstrations, get hands on and harvest your own mussels, all whilst enjoying the local wines of the Bellarine, and the stunning scenery of Port Phillip.
ABOUT SEA BOUNTY MUSSELS
Sea Bounty understands that sustainable practices, environmental protection and natural, chemical-free aquaculture are essential in providing a constant supply of top quality mussels.Sea Bounty has been accredited with the following internationally recognised Certifications.
These credentials are very important to us because they acknowledge our commitment to consumer health, sustainable practices and our sense of responsibility concerning natural resources. There is an increasingly strong demand for sustainable and traceable production by environmentally aware consumers and these certifications demonstrate our commitment to this.
NASAA (National Association for Sustainable Agriculture, Australia) is the nation’s leading organic certifier and is internationally recognised for supporting the education of industry and consumers on organic, biodynamic and sustainable agricultural practices.
The scope of NASAA’s standard covers the entire supply chain, ensuring organic integrity from farm to plate.
For more information on NASAA Certified Organic, visit the NASAA Website
NASAA Registration Number: 7128P
Friend of the Sea is a non-profit, non-government organisation (NGO), whose mission is the conservation of the marine habitat.
Friend of the Sea sustainable aquaculture criteria include:
– no impact on critical habitat, e.g. marine habitats
– waste water compliance
– reduction of escapes and bycatches to a negligible level
– no use of harmful antifoulants, GMOs or growth hormones
– gradual reduction of carbon footprint
– compliance with Social Accountability and Welfare
about growing mussels
Seabounty mussels are Australian blue mussels, their correct species name is Mytilus galloprovincialisMussels are bivalve shellfish that generally take 12-18 months to grow to a size suitable for harvest. They feed on nature’s bounty of the sea – filtering seawater through their body for the nutrients found in phytoplankton and marine algae.
To ensure we have a sustainable crop to harvest, Sea Bounty sources its baby mussels, or spat, from its hatchery in Queenscliff, where mussels are carefully spawned and then attached to ropes as babies. From there they are transferred to one of our marine farm leases in Port Phillip Bay where they can flourish and grow until they are ready for market.
Mussels grow while they are attached by their beard or “byssal” thread to special ropes and longlines. This suspended rope-culture has become an efficient and effective way of growing healthy, clean and safe shellfish that can be harvested to order every day of the week.
safeguards for consumersIn Victoria our aquaculture reserves are frequently sampled and monitored according to the Victorian Shellfish Quality Assurance Program.
This ensures the environment is monitored to make sure water quality is always suitable for harvest and shellfish safety is sustained.
