It is official: New South Wales’ Sydney Fish Market will be moving.

The Australian seafood market will continue operations in its original venue until its new home next door is completed in 2020. It has been in its current location at Blackwattle Bay for half a century and is Southern Hemisphere’s biggest fish market; every year, a whopping 13,500 tonnes of seafood is traded here.

The iconic Sydney Fish Market was never intended to become a popular tourist attraction. However, a study undertaken by Deloitte Access Economics has revealed interesting insights – a fifth of its annual three millions visitors are tourists! The new market will be two times bigger and it is hoped that the new facilities will double the annual number of visitors to six million.

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Construction at the new location—which by the way, is located just beside the current market—is set to commence in 2018. The new Sydney Fish Market is expected to open in 2020. In the meantime, you can still visit the Sydney Fish Market.

There are currently no designs in mind, but NSW Planning Minister Rob Stokes has announced that the government is on the lookout for creative proposals from design and engineering firms. Restaurants, outdoor dining accommodating up to 3,000 patrons and a public walkway—linking the foreshore from Balmain to Woolloomooloo—are in the pipeline.

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NSW Premier Mike Baird has described the seafood market’s facilities as “tired and run down”. The new A$250-million upgrade will improve the fish market’s conditions drastically and we are looking forward to the new complex!

New features will include a wholesale market with live auctions. The existing site will be sold away to provide funding to the new market’s development.

About the writer:
Hui Jun Ng is a staff writer for ladyironchef. She previously worked in the food and marketing industry. She loves travelling and enjoys exploring underrated destinations. In her free time, you will find her indulging in coffee and her all-time favourite local dish – bak chor mee.

Seafood is a perennial favourite, and we have this thing for fish markets. It has become a norm that we would check out the fish markets whenever we travel, especially if they include dine-in options!

It may sound like an intimidating experience, but we will gladly allow the freshness and variety to win us over. Fortunately, Asia Pacific is home to several large-scale fish markets. From Taipei’s Addiction Aquatic Development Seafood Market, Sydney’s Fish Market to Tokyo’s world-famous Tsukiji Fish Market, here are 6 Best Fish Markets in Asia Pacific that all seafood lovers have to make a special trip to.

#1 ADDICTION AQUATIC DEVELOPMENT

Addiction Aquatic Development in Taipei is a massive market with 10 different concepts under its roof; it is like the other Tsukji Market you never knew about.

Upon entering, you will be greeted by the Live Aquamarine area. Proceed to browse through an exhaustive selection of abalone, king crabs, scallops and more. You can pick up fresh seafood and groceries, and bento sets and ready-to-eat seafood.

There are a few dining options within the compound, including a Sushi Bar and a Charcoal Grilled Seafood Restaurant. We swear a trip to Addiction Aquatic Development will be the highlight of your Taipei trip.

No. 18, Alley 2, Ln 410, Minzu E Rd
Tel: (02) 2508 1268
Daily: 6am – 12midnight

#2 CHAU DOC MARKET

Chau Doc Market in Vietnam is considered an off-the-radar destination when compared to the other fish markets in this post, but it certainly does not pale in comparison. After all, not many people have even heard of the Vietnamese city Chau Doc!

We were blown away by the variety of dried seafood piled atop each other. The localised market’s vendors here are extremely friendly.

QL91 – Tuyen tranh Chau Doc, tp.
Chau ?oc, An Giang, Vietnam
Tel: +84 91 828 31 81
Daily: 5.30am – 6pm

#3 SHINSEN FISH MARKET

In the City of Smiles where cafes and restaurants are aplenty, a fish market exists too and you definitely need to know about it.

Shinsen Fish Market is a seafood haven in Bangkok, and it is a new addition to Bangkok’s ever-happening food scene. Just a few months shy of its first birthday, Shinsen Fish Market is supposedly inspired by and modelled after Taipei’s Addiction Aquatic Developments.

 Shinsen Fish Market
163/6 Soi Sukhumvit 39, Bangkok
Tel: +66 2 260 6522
Nearest BTS: Phrom Phong

#4 SYDNEY FISH MARKET

Sydney Fish Market is more than just a tourist attraction. This market is where everyone— locals include—heads to for New South Wales’ best and freshest seafood.Visit the market for grocery shopping or partake in an interactive cooking class. Want to gain an in-depth understanding of your seafood? Sign up for a Behind the Scenes Tour (from A$35 per pax).

Visit the market for grocery shopping or enrol yourself in an interactive cooking class. Want to gain an in-depth understanding of your seafood? Sign up for a Behind the Scenes Tour (from A$35 per pax). Of course, do not leave without having a seafood meal.

Bank St & Pyrmont Bridge Road, Sydney NSW 2009, Australia
Tel: +61 2 9004 1100
Daily: 7am – 4.30pm

#5 TSUKIJI FISH MARKET

Tsukiji Fish Market is one of the world’s largest and oldest wholesale seafood markets, and needs no elaborate introduction. The world-famous destination is where Japan’s fish traders gather to barter for the best fishes. It is also a dream come true for avid foodies who would fly all the way here to Tokyo just to savour the freshest sashimi at Tsukiji Fish Market.

Note that Tsukiji Fish Market might be moving soon, but the verdict has yet to be confirmed. Read more about it here.

5 Chome-2-1 Tsukiji, Chuo, Tokyo 104-0045, Japan
Tel: +81 3-3542-1111

#6 NORYANJIN FISHERY MARKET

Noryangjin Fisheries Wholesale Market is a must visit when in Seoul. The bustling market is a sight to behold on its own, and it is one trip that we will always take because the market simply comes alive with the many rows of stalls.

Watch as customers haggle for fresh sashimi, lobsters, crabs, prawns and live octopus etc. After purchasing seafood, go to the back of the market to find a restaurant to cook them for you in your preferred style(s).

It is a quintessential Seoul experience, and one that we will never forget.

674 Nodeul-ro, Dongjak-gu, South Korea
Tel: +82 2-2254-8000
Daily: 24 hours