Fresh Seafood, Pelicans and Coastal Tradition at San Remo Fisherman’s Co-op
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There are few places in Victoria where you can taste the connection between the ocean, the local community and generations of hard-working fishermen quite as clearly as at San Remo Fisherman's Co-op. Perched on the foreshore overlooking the bridge to Phillip Island, the beloved institution — known simply by locals as “The Co-op” — has been part of the region’s fishing story since 1948, and stopping here feels less like a tourist activity and more like becoming part of a long-standing coastal tradition.
The first thing that hits you is the smell of hot chips and salty sea air drifting across the water. Then comes the difficult decision of what to order. While the menu features everything from crayfish and scallops to prawns and mussels, it is the famous battered fish and chips that people queue for, and after one bite it is easy to understand why.
The batter is golden, delicate and impossibly crisp, shattering lightly with each mouthful without overwhelming the seafood inside. The locally caught fish is exceptionally fresh, flaky and sweet, tasting unmistakably of the ocean rather than the fryer. Paired with ultra-crunchy chips and eaten overlooking the jetty, it is the kind of meal that reminds you why fish and chips remain one of Australia’s greatest coastal pleasures.
The oysters deserve their own standing ovation. Fresh, plump and brilliantly briny, they arrive tasting as though they have been lifted straight from the sea moments earlier. Sitting outside with a tray of oysters, a squeeze of lemon and uninterrupted waterfront views is one of those simple travel experiences that somehow becomes a highlight of the entire trip.
What makes dining at The Co-op particularly special, however, is understanding what sits behind the seafood counter. During our visit, we met Wolfgang Platzer, whose passion for the organisation and its history was immediately infectious. Wolfgang enthusiastically shared stories about the co-op’s role supporting Victorian commercial fishermen and why it continues to matter so deeply to the local community.
Unlike many commercial seafood operations focused purely on profit, The Co-op reinvests directly into the fishing industry and local region. Fishermen are reportedly paid up to 40 per cent above industry standard rates, helping smaller-scale operators continue sustainable fishing practices while receiving fair compensation for their catch. The Co-op also supports vessels with vital services including ice production, loading facilities, bait and fishing equipment.
Wolfgang explained that every order of fish and chips does more than satisfy a craving — it helps sustain the local fishing fleet, supports jobs and contributes back into the San Remo community. It is a refreshingly transparent and community-minded approach to seafood.
He also shared some fascinating seafood facts along the way. One particularly memorable lesson centred around gummy shark, the prized fish traditionally used for quality Victorian flake. Interestingly, gummy sharks actually have no teeth — hence “gummy” — and instead use strong crushing plates to feed. Wolfgang noted that gummy shark is also considered lower in mercury than many larger predatory fish because it feeds closer to the ocean floor. Another useful tip for visitors: not all “flake” is gummy shark. The term can legally apply to various shark species, so if you specifically want gummy shark, it is worth asking.
Of course, no visit to The Co-op is complete without staying for the famous daily pelican feeding on the foreshore beside the pier. Every day at noon, crowds gather as the enormous birds swoop in expectantly for their seafood lunch. Equal parts entertaining and educational, the feeding provides fascinating insights into the Australian pelican, which boasts the longest bill of any bird in the world.
Watching the pelicans awkwardly shuffle along the sand before elegantly gliding across the water is unexpectedly mesmerising. The experience is charmingly old-school — free, family-friendly and deeply connected to the local environment. Staff also educate visitors about marine conservation and the importance of protecting these iconic coastal birds.
Afterwards, many visitors wander along the jetty to spot the resident stingrays gliding through the clear water below before inevitably returning for another seafood snack.
Part fish and chip shop, part seafood market, part community institution, San Remo Fisherman's Co-op is far more than just a quick lunch stop on the way to Phillip Island. It is a place where sustainability, local industry, wildlife and exceptional seafood all come together on one beautiful stretch of Victorian coastline. And honestly, once you have eaten oysters this fresh and fish this good, every other seaside fish and chip shop starts facing very stiff competition.
Address: 170 Marine Parade, San Remo VIC 3925
Phone: 03 5678 5206
