Noosa fishing company Soul Fish Seafoods closes after 10 years

The owner of a Noosa fishing company that sold fresh seafood to locals and high-end restaurants for years has revealed where it all went wrong.

After catching and serving wild fish for 10 years, the owner of a popular Noosa fishing company says he’s heartbroken to now close his doors.

“I am truly devastated,” Daniel Learoyd said.

Mr Learoyd owned Soul Fish Seafoods at 2/15 Production St, Noosaville, renowned for serving ethical, sustainable and wild-caught fresh seafood at its store, farmers markets and via home deliveries.

Australian Securities and Investments Commission records show Soul Fish Pty Ltd – formerly trading as Soul Fish Seafoods – appointed liquidator Jarvis Archer of Revive Financial on July 15, 2022.

Based on information from the director, Mr Archer said the company owed about $425,000 to creditors, including employees, trade creditors and the Australian Taxation Office.

Mr Learoyd, a fisherman of 25 years, said closing wasn’t an easy decision as staff, suppliers and customers had been impacted.

He said he was pushed into this position following a “perfect storm” of bad luck.

He said he was hurt by his joint venture boats breaking down, Covid-19, moving his facility from Coolum to Noosa last year, and inflation and price increases, which made “seafood a bit of a luxury”.

But Mr Learoyd said the “true crusher” was having the worst weather he had seen this year since the 80s.

He said some of his fishermen had only four or five trips compared to normally up to 20.

He added that the future looked dull.

“With all of this coinciding … it has broken us,” he said.

Mr Learoyd said he already missed his “brilliant” staff, and thanked them and customers for creating “amazing” moments.

He was also grateful for friends, suppliers and his landlord who offered him an extended hand.

While saddened to close this chapter, Mr Learoyd said he would endeavour to return some way in a “much smaller” capacity.

Peter Kuruvita, owner and restaurateur at Alba Noosa and former customer of Soul Fish Seafoods, said he was “very sad” to see the company close as he enjoyed buying its fresh seafood, like many others.

“People loved it,” he said.