Port Lincoln mussels and sardines, kingfish from the Eyre Peninsula and South Australian salmon – not products you’d normally expect to find in a tin. But Little Tin Co is changing that, with a vision to make premium South Australian seafood accessible and re-imagine the time-honoured tradition of canning.

With a combined background in commercial fishing, conservation and sustainable food production, founders Rachel and Dan Weeks questioned why tinned seafood had to be mass produced, from unknown sources around the world – when we have an abundance of quality, traceable and sustainably produced seafood right here in South Australia.

Inspired by the quality conservers in Spain and Portugal, Rachel and Dan set out to create their own tinned seafood, back home.

“There’s a really strong tradition over there of using local or seasonal species of fish and putting them into cans, and we wanted to replicate that in South Australia,” says Rachel.

Supporting local suppliers is paramount to the business ethos. From the seafood, right through to the other ingredients featured and even the brand’s artwork, designed by local Adelaide Hills artist Ingrid Mangan.

“Really building the community over in Port Lincoln with all the local commercial fishermen and aquaculture enterprises over there has been really important,” says Rachel.

“We also use a local olive oil from Peninsula Providore, and a local whiskey from down near Robe.

“There’s a real authenticity in South Australia, in the local communities, it’s very easy to build those networks.”

The community support also stems down to the consumer, with Rachel and Dan regulars at local farmers markets, offering people tastings and getting the chance to tell their story.

“The way our seafood industry is set up is that it’s incredibly sustainable and really well monitored and maintained,” says Rachel.

“I think we should be proud of that and just ensure that we really support our local fishing industry.”

Find out more about Little Tin Co here, including stockist information.

Catch Rachel and Dan regularly at the Adelaide and Willunga Farmer’s Markets.

With the naturally occurring algal bloom affecting some coastal areas in South Australia, now is a great time to support SA seafood producers by buying local.

For more information on what the South Australian Government is doing about the algal bloom, head to Algal Bloom Update.