Albany’s Ocean and Paddock has reeled in a big catch, winning Australia’s best takeaway fish and chips at the 2026 National Seafood Industry Awards last week.

The prestigious award was presented at the International Convention Centre in Sydney on July 30, with about 500 seafood industry leaders and fisheries stakeholders gathering to celebrate Australia’s seafood industry.

Ocean and Paddock was recognised for its focus on high-quality local seafood, sustainability, transparent seafood provenance and outstanding customer service, which is now setting the benchmark for excellence in the takeaway seafood sector.

Ocean and Paddock owner Trenton Brennan said he was honoured to receive the award which he hoped would solidify Albany’s position on the culinary map.

“It was very humbling,” he said.

“I think it ties into the really vibrant restaurant and cafe culture that we’re building in Albany . . . it’s nice to be amongst that group and help promote Albany and put it on the map.”

Mr Brennan said one of the highlights of the award was being able to celebrate the win with his staff.

“We have lovely staff and it really means the world to them,” he said.

“It was really nice to see the look on their faces and to hear what it meant to them.

“They sacrifice a lot so I think that’s amazing.”

The award also recognised Ocean and Paddock’s commitment to sustainability and educating both staff and customers about the seafood industry.

Mr Brennan said the win also came with a responsibility to maintain the high standards that earned the business national recognition.

“Now we’ve been put up there it does come with a fair sense of responsibility so you really have to make sure you do deliver because we’re a representative of the industry,” he said.

“It’s really important that we just keep that standard up and in fact exceed it.”

With demersal fishing bans placing additional pressure on the seafood industry in the Great Southern, Mr Brennan said maintaining a consistent supply of quality local seafood remained a priority.

“We are hoping the new changes to our coastal fisheries won’t impact supply, pricing and quality but we will need to watch it carefully as the fisheries evolve,” he said.

“We have made a really firm commitment to showcase the best seafood from the Great Southern and it does put that little bit of that extra burden on it to uphold that responsibility and honour.

“Thankfully, we work really closely with Great Southern Seafood who are more than suppliers, they are part of the Ocean and Paddock family and they really go out of their way to make sure that we get the best seafood we can possibly get.”

A traveller from Victoria, Helen May said she had come to Ocean and Paddock after finding out it was award-winning.

“I googled where to get fish and chips in Albany and this shop came up as award-winning so that’s why we’ve come here,” she said.

WA Fishing Industry Council interim chief executive Manue Daniels said Ocean and Paddock exemplifies the industry’s commitment to quality, sustainability and ongoing improvement.

“Ocean and Paddock has received multiple seafood awards over the years, and Trenton continues to drive a philosophy of continual improvement across seafood quality, customer service and sustainability,” she said.

“As an industry body, we recognise the importance of helping consumers better understand their seafood and celebrate businesses that make an exceptional contribution to promoting WA seafood.

“Ocean and Paddock’s commitment to quality, service, sustainability and continuous improvement makes it a deserving recipient of this national award.”

Ocean and Paddock took out the Australian title against finalists San Remo Fisherman’s Co-op in Victoria and Wild Local in Queensland.