CLIENT: Sydney Fish Markets
LOCATION: Sydney, Australia
YEAR: 2026
Project Summary
We are proud to have completed the Live Seafood Life Support System design and construct contract for the Sydney Fish Market Redevelopment project, delivering the live crustacean system and wholesale live seafood systems at the new Sydney Fish Market. These live seafood holding systems provide wet storage for a variety of seafood species including Rock Lobster, Abalone, Coral Trout, Spanner Crabs, Blue Swimmer Crabs, Pipis and others.
Our project scope included the design, supply, installation and commissioning of:
- A central live crustacean system including three replicate recirculating seawater systems designed to hold a range of live crustacean species, each with dedicated water quality and temperature control. The system includes capacity for up to seven plug-in transportable live seafood tanks.
- Four independent wholesale live seafood systems, each configured as standalone units to support individual tenant operations.
The live crustacean system included:
- Concrete sumps, seawater storage and wastewater tanks
- FRP and acrylic enclosures
- FRP racking with overhead adjustable flow system with capacity for 360 storage tubs
- Pentair Sparus water pumps with constant flow technology and variable speed control
- Waterco media filters with zeolite media
- MBBR biofilters with C1 media (1000m²/m³)
- MAT Kuling protein skimmers with auto backwash system
- ClearWater Tech ozone generators with variable output control
- AirSep oxygen concentrators
- UltraAqua UV sterilisers with UV sensors
- Sondex titanium plate HEX’s
- Waterco digiheat in-line heaters
- Esam air blowers with silencers, inlet filters and pressure relief valves
- Hayward automatic 3-way valves
- OxyGuard Pacific water quality monitoring and control (pH, DO, ORP, Temp and Ultrasonic Level Sensors) by Technolab
The Wholesale Live Seafood Systems included:
- Fibreglass tanks
- Waterco water pumps
- Biofilters with bio-ball media
- MAT Kuling protein skimmers with auto backwash system
- Pentair UV sterilisers
- Oasis heat pumps (heat/chill)
- Kamair air pump
This project was delivered in close collaboration with Sydney Fish Market (Erik Poole and Adam Wood) and the Multiplex team, resulting in robust, live seafood infrastructure designed for long-term operational reliability and animal welfare outcomes.
Customer testimonial – Adam Wood – Head of Supply Chain – Sydney Fish Market Pty Ltd –
“The delivery of the live crustacean system for the new Sydney Fish Market was a significant and highly specialised project, and Fresh by Design played an important role in its success. From design through to installation and commissioning, their team demonstrated a strong understanding of live seafood handling requirements and worked collaboratively to ensure the system met the operational needs of our market.
The completed system incorporates three independent recirculating seawater systems, advanced water treatment and temperature control technologies, and capacity to support both permanent and transportable live seafood holding infrastructure. The quality of the equipment supplied, combined with the technical expertise and support provided throughout the project, has resulted in a robust and reliable system that gives us confidence in maintaining animal welfare, product quality and operational efficiency, taking SFM’s capabilities to the forefront of live seafood handling.
Fresh by Design’s professionalism, responsiveness and willingness to work through the challenges that naturally arise in a project of this scale. We would have no hesitation in recommending them to organisations seeking high-quality live seafood, aquaculture or recirculating water system solutions.”
