Our Pick: Spring Creek Barramundi
As we move into the warmer months, the Cannings team find ourselves thinking more and more about lots of lovely fresh seafood. With fish on the brain, we wanted to take the opportunity to tell you a bit about our amazing barramundi!
At Cannings, we source our premium Freshwater Barramundi from the idyllic Whitsunday Region of North Queensland. This region is currently considered one of the best in Australia for Barramundi - and we’re extra lucky to be sourcing the best of the best from this area! Our barra comes to us from Spring Creek Barramundi farm - operating for over ten years now, these are producers who truly consider the whole picture when it comes to their aquaculture practices. Not only does their barra taste great, they are also committed to sustainable and high welfare farming practices.
Sustainability
“Located on the banks of Spring Creek, a small seasonal tributary of the Bohle River on the outskirts of Townsville, it is one of Australia’s most unique fresh-water barramundi farms due to the fact it is a ‘zero discharge’ pond-based re-circulation farm, meaning zero impact on the Great Barrier Reef.
The farm draws water from deep sand filtered bores and uses this water to keep the system at a constant level and we utilize a network of wetland systems and natural biological
processes of microalgae to remediate and condition our water for re-use. This is a unique system in pond-based barramundi aquaculture and makes our farm highly sustainable.
Utilizing microalgae to remove byproducts of the fish’s biological processes, gives us the ability to re-use all our water, time and time again.
Undertaking extensive pre-harvest water conditioning ensures that our fish are free from taints and any off flavors.” (Spring Creek Barramundi)
Feed
Spring Creek use a specially formulated Barramundi feed that contains no added hormones, antibiotics, artificial colours or artificial growth promoters. They ensure that the feed is not only tailored to the barramundi’s needs at each different stage of their growth, but that all ingredients used are sustainably sourced and certified.
In addition to this, barramundi also has “a better ‘wild fish in to farmed fish out’ ratio” than some other common farmed fish species. “The amount of wild caught fish needed to produce fishmeal and oil for barramundi feed is approximately equal to or less than the amount of farmed fish produced. This means that the farms aren’t taking out more fish from the ocean than they produce.” (AMCS Sustainable Seafood Guide)
Stress-Free
Spring Creek ensure a low stocking density as well as a low stress harvesting method, meaning that the fish are harvested quickly, humanely, and in a way that preserves the quality of the meat to the highest degree.
Best of the Best
Spring Creek Barra has a superior taste and texture due to the care that goes into every stage of the fish rearing process. Although some barramundi can taste muddy due to varying water quality, Spring Creek understands the science behind the biological processes that cause muddy flavour and has developed methods to eliminate them.
It’s not just us who can taste the difference - Spring Creek won the prestigious Champion Gold Medal at the Sydney Fine Food Awards just last year in 2018!
Good for You!
Barra contains loads of nutrients including:
Omega 3 fatty acids, which have anti-inflammatory properties and can reduce the risk of health problems such as heart disease and possibly even cancer!
Phosphorus, which protects the blood’s acid/base balance and transports energy.
Selenium, an antioxidant which assists in maintaining thyroid health as well as the body’s immune system.
Proudly Australian
We are so proud to stock such a premium quality Aussie barra. Not only is it some of the best tasting in the world, but our barra is also sustainably raised to Australian standards - we are proud to say that farmed Aussie barra scores a green light on the Sustainable Seafood Guide! You can enjoy your fish knowing that it has been nurtured and cared for by a dedicated team of Aussie farmers.
So, now you know! Go ahead and grab yourself some beautiful Aussie barra - you deserve the best.