Charlotte Varcoe
CRAYFISH season will keep on going this year with industry leaders working to find alternative export options following continuing difficulties with China.
China unofficially banned the importation of live lobsters from Australia due to an accusation of the lobsters having high cadmium.
Managing director of the Ferguson Group – which operates Five Star Seafood in Port MacDonnell – Andrew Ferguson said the allegations from China were incorrect, stating the company had lobsters tested for the metal.
“Authorities have said we don’t have these heavy metals in our live crayfish or lobsters but we feel the Australian product falls below the levels to be concerned about,” Mr Ferguson said.
“This is why we are looking at alternative markets such as hospitality, hotel venues and supermarkets but also places like Hong Kong and Singapore.
“We are also selling half lobsters at the moment which is going really well at the moment and as Covid-19 dissipates we are hoping to find our way to be able to travel a bit more, which will allow us to find more opportunities.”
Minister for Primary Industries David Basham said the cadmium claim was proven incorrect with testing showing the products were well below acceptable levels.
“While the claim is disappointing both the State Government and Federal Government are working with industry to resolve these issues,” Mr Basham said.
“The Marshall Liberal Government is already supporting the industry by helping explore new markets as well as allowing greater fishing flexibility which doesn’t impact sustainability, such as extending seasons and allowing carryover of uncaught fish from one season to the next.”
Mr Ferguson said prices were stabilising at $45 for the season, half of what it used to be.
“These prices have a big effect on the industry because it costs the fishermen so much to pull a lobster out of the water per kilo and the cost to go fishing isn’t much, which means there is not much in it in regards to price at the moment,” Mr Ferguson said.
“We did have a week or so where the prices were pretty good because the catches were also pretty good because the catches were also pretty good.”
