John Anastasopoulos and his father have provided locals with fresh Australian seafood for more than 30 years.
Despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, the family business has managed to find clever and creative ways to continue serving customers while adhering to restrictions.
The freshly caught seafood is available for takeaway at Anastos Fisheries in North Shore or included in mixed-produce packs delivered contact-free by local business, Magic Meadow.
John shares more about his family business and the importance of community.
Tell us a little bit about your business.
My father and I are commercial fishermen and we have been working together for many years. My father started fishing as far back as 1968. We are a small family business that is passionate about Australian seafood.
Being a second generation fisherman, I have come to know the seafood industry really well and the high quality seafood product Australia has to offer. My father and I catch seasonal Australian wild seafood with our own fishing vessel, moored at Geelong waterfront.
We are extremely passionate in supplying the public with Australian-only seafood. Australia has excellent seafood right here on our doorstep. Imported seafood has had a negative impact on our industry so, in order to provide the Australian consumer with high quality Australian seafood, we took the extra step and opened our own scallop processing factory in North Shore. The public can now buy our scallops and other catches direct.
Our seasonal catches include scallops from Bass Strait (currently running) and in the summer months king prawns, school prawns, sand crabs, balmain bugs, a variety of mixed fish from Lakes Entrance or Bass Strait and jig-caught arrow squid from Portland in south west Victoria. We also offer other species of fish direct from other fishermen and the Melbourne seafood market.
We support Australian-only, wild caught seafood and encourage the consumer to know where their seafood comes from.
What are some things your business has been doing differently during this time?
We have been working with Magic Meadow – a farm producer nearby – offering combined deliveries of mixed produce and seafood.
What does it mean for you to have the community get behind ‘It’s our backyard’?
It means everything. Having the support of the community encourages small businesses, like ours, to keep going. We need to support each other as much as we can and ensure people thrive in their communities.
What’s a good seafood dish to help lift peoples’ spirits?
A scallop curry! Our local Bass Strait scallops – which are caught by us and processed and shucked at our factory – are water free and chemical free and make for excellent recipes.
We have recently shared a couple of scallop recipes on our Facebook and Instagram page. They are so easy to cook with – you can make a complicated dish with many flavours or a very simple dish with a handful of ingredients. Either way, the scallops are the highlight!
How can locals support you and businesses like yours?
Sharing our Facebook page and other local businesses on social media. Also encouraging others to buy local and buy Australian. We are surrounded by sea and have access to a variety of high quality seafood that many other countries do not have access to. Let us celebrate that.
What do you love about Geelong and the many businesses ‘in our backyard’?
Community banding together and supporting each other. Geelong has always had that community feel. We care about local products and we always support and encourage each other. This is what Geelong has always had, and will continue to have, because residents care and support each other .
It’s Our Backyard is a City of Greater Geelong initiative to inspire our community to back Geelong and think local first.
To shout out a business you love, share how you’re supporting local or promote your own business make sure you use #itsourbackyardgeelong on social media.
Details: www.itsourbackyardgeelong.com.au
