The Curated Plate, Queensland's premier food and drink festival, is set to launch its largest celebration of seafood in the event's history as industry comes together to celebrate the Sunshine Coast's vibrant seafood sector.
A curated series of seafood themed events within this year's festival program will debut July 25-27, 2025.
The Seafood Series, designed to support this multi-million-dollar industry, is a collaboration between Trade and Investment Queensland, Sunshine Coast Council, the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and local businesses.
Festival enthusiasts can dive into an array of seafood-focused experiences, including an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of the Mooloolaba trawlers with The Curated Plate Culinary Director and renowned chef Peter Kuruvita.
Discover the origins of your seafood
Learning about sustainable practices of our seafood industry, attendees will gain firsthand insight into the origin of their seafood and what's caught fresh and local, and can meet the passionate fishers and suppliers behind the region's premium seafood.
The Seafood Series will also include a First Nations themed seafood experience by Saltwater Eco Tours onboard their heritage vessel.
The event will bring seafood and Indigenous culture together and attendees will explore the waterways around Mooloolaba. More details on this event will be shared when the early tickets are released in April.
Mooloolaba Seafood restaurant Fish on Parkyn's Grape vs Grain' lunch is returning on July 25, where diners will vote between expertly paired wines and craft beers from Brockenchack Wines and 10 Toes Brewing - all complemented by the freshest local seafood and premium beef.
This popular event was sold out last year so make sure you secure your tickets quickly when they go on sale.
Mr Kuruvtia is working with local seafood restaurants to highlight wild caught Mooloolaba prawns, Fraser Isle spanner crabs, tuna, barramundi and more.
He said the Seafood Series would be a collection of exciting events in this year's festival and marked the most significant celebration of local seafood in the event's history.
"I'm incredibly humbled to be part of this collaboration, which is uniting government and industry to showcase Mooloolaba's crucial role in Australia's seafood sector," Mr Kuruvita said.
History of fisheries
As one of Australia's largest seafood hubs, Mooloolaba plays a vital role in the nation's seafood industry.
The initiative is designed to extend beyond The Curated Plate, fostering stronger industry collaboration and unlocking new domestic and international trade opportunities.
In addition to the four public events, a delegation of international industry leaders will tour the trawlers and fisheries at The Spit, paving the way for increased business growth.
Sunshine Coast Council Economy Portfolio Councillor Joe Natoli said the new event initiative was sure to be a hit with locals and visitors to Mooloolaba.
"Mooloolaba prawns are famous in restaurants around the country and this is a wonderful way to celebrate, in style, our local prawns and other seafood that comes through Mooloolaba port," Cr Natoli said.
"The Mooloolaba Spit is the perfect place to showcase our world class seafood industry, particularly with companies like Mooloolaba Fisheries, Rockliff Seafood, Silver Sea Seafoods and Walkers Seafood Australia thriving as exporters.
"We are all for more collaborations between local businesses, industry and government, which can only benefit our region long-term through a growing economy, industry jobs and tourism."
Mooloolaba Spit Heritage Trial
Silver Sea Seafoods Managing Director Jacky Cartwright said they were excited to be part of The Curated Plate event and looked forward to promoting the Mooloolaba wild-caught seafood industry.
It's a great opportunity to share the journey of the Eastern King Prawn from ocean to plate and highlight the vital role fishers play in bringing quality seafood to the table," Ms Cartwright said.
