Southern Ocean Mariculture (SOM) started as a business in February 1996 and commenced building one of the first abalone farms in Australia on some windswept sand dunes in April 1996. The business was started by a group of local abalone divers wanting to give back to an industry that had served them well. After years of research and with a group of employees with a passion for abalone cultivation, the farming cycle was perfected.

Australia is world renowned for producing the highest quality seafood because of its pristine water quality. Southern Australian oceanic waters are particularly pure because of the water provided by the Great Southern Ocean. Southern Ocean Mariculture is situated close to the continental shelf where the Bonney upwelling brings cold oxygenated and nutrient rich waters up after travelling from the Antarctic. SOM has influences from the Leuwin current from the West and the East Australian current from the east. Importantly for SOM the nearest large population centre is over 70 km away and there is no run off from any large rivers nearby. There is therefore no source of pollution to affect our farm.

Our inlet water comes from a small bay which protects our pipelines from the large swells offshore of our farm. Because the bay is so small we have a real advantage over many other farms as our water has oceanic temperatures ramging from 11-19°C. This small amd low temperature range means that our abalone grow throughout the year, do not get heat stressed and can be processed all year round. This results in a consistent product for our customers to enjoy.

The selection of the site was pure serendipity. One of the diver's had bought some land so that he could get access to some very well protected bays for diving for abalone. When the idea for an abalone farm was formed the site was already available. The abalone population was strong; the bay protected the farm from the swells of the Great Southern Ocean and the site remote from human habitation.