News

Sea Bounty In The Media

Dec 2025

Ben Shewry (Attica) talks about meeting Lance

Listen to Ben recall his initial meeting with Lance on the mussel boat, and how he was inspired by chatting with Lance, and motivated to turn is life around, personal and professional.  This meeting also led to the production of the very moving short film, Spindrift. 

Dec 2025

Cycling legend, Cadel Evans visits Lance in Portarlington

It's the second time Cadel and friends have been on board Portarlington Mussel Tours. Lance, a keen cyclist himself, was lucky enough to have his mussels, and the tour, featured in a story for Cyclist magazine, highlighting the beautiful region of Geelong and the Bellarine Peninsula.

December 2023

Lance talks on FishTales with John Susman

Land farming and sea farming are interconnected sectors that play vital roles in food production and sustainability. Both sectors require responsible resource management and sustainable practices to minimize environmental impact. Gaining an intimate understanding for the marine environment through careers in both land farming and wild catch fishing give the Australian mussel industry’s “Grandfather” Lance Wiffen a unique understanding

April 2023

New Things to Do in Australia: A Victoria Mussel Tour

Once considered the poor man’s oyster, mussels are flexing their muscle on the Australian dining and tourism scene, writes Christine Retschlag. On a blustery Bellarine day, long lines of black mussels are swaying in the breeze like an old Greek woman’s washing.

March 2023

Back-to-back Delicious. Produce Awards Winner

The delicious. Produce Awards, in partnership with Miele, are a celebration of Australia’s magnificent bounty of ethical, sustainable and innovative ingredients, and the passionate, talented people behind them. Read on for our 2017 winners.

May 2023

The Produce Index

Sweet, plump, native blue mussels are being grown in Port Phillip without nothing artificial in sight, writes Richard Cornish

March 2023

Portarlington Mussel Tours Might Be the Bellarine’s Most Decadent and Delicious Way To Learn About Molluscs

Feast on shellfish plucked fresh from the bay, and explore the source of Portarlington’s famous mussels, with a fifth generation sea farmer and his luxe Huon-pine trawler. There are plenty of local wines and eats on board, too.

April 2023

Bounty from the Bay: Mussels from Port Phillip Bay

Fishers haul in hundreds of tonnes of blue mussels annually from the waters of Port Phillip Bay. Once regarded as only good for fish bait, the molluscs have found new markets both here and abroad.

January 2015

Victoria’s Mussels in The Swim Again

LANCE Wiffen, 57, raises the ropes on his mussel farm in Pinnace Channel in the southern reaches of Port Phillip and beams. ''I'm like a kid who's been eating Coco-Pops, I'm bouncing off the walls with the excitement of getting in this new crop,'' he says.

January 2015

The Age Good Food Guide 2015 | Sustainability Award winner

The annual Age Good Food Guide rates the top Melbourne dining establishments with 1 2 and 3 hats, Restaurant of the Year, New Country and Chef of the Year. The Age Good Food Guide 2015: the award winners.

November 2015

Sea Bounty named in Australia’s top 30 producers

There is one criterion for a good producer, and that is flavour. It doesn't matter how many ethical, sustainable and humane boxes producers tick, if the lamb, chicken, cheese or fruit they are growing and making doesn't taste good, they are not good producers.

January 2016

Why We Should Eat More Mussels

There’s an under-appreciated mollusk that deserves our attention and praise: the mussel. These little sea creatures aren't appearing on the menu in Australian households anywhere near as often as they should be, given their excellent health benefits, bountiful supply and eco-friendly credentials.

July 2002

Sea Bounty Shows The Strength of Its Mussels

Fresh mussels for sale, trumpets the advertising board at the service station in Portarlington. The sign acknowledges one of Victorian aquaculture’s quiet achievements: if you want good, fresh mussels, the pretty township on the Bellarine Peninsula, nestled on Port Phillip Bay not far from Geelong, is the place to go.