Tassie lobster tales to hit TV screens

CRAYPOT-mounted cameras are among the cinematic tricks used by producers of a new TV series on Tasmania’s lucrative rock-lobster industry.

The 10-part documentary series, which has completed filming, tracks the journey of six Tasmanian crayfishing boat crews in the winter season. Titled Aussie Lobster Men, the observational odyssey is due to screen on 7Mate in 2019.

“We followed the fishing crews for 10 weeks in realtime,” said series director Liam Taylor. “We’re really excited to be able to film such a compelling story that is based purely in Tasmania.”

The hardy crews were faced with challenging conditions at sea, such as gale-force winds, freezing temperatures and 8-9m swells. “It was a real eyeopener for us,” Mr Taylor said.

Shooting the series provided a number of challenges for filmmakers.

“We used specially constructed rigs and mounted cameras to the lobster pots to capture the world of lobster fishing both above and beneath the surface.”

Arts Minister Elise Archer provided $200,000 in funding towards the series on behalf of the State Government.

Series producer Celia Boden said it was “really exciting to tell a local story” and hoped the series would provide a catalyst for more locally produced projects.

Skipper Warren Jager, who is a fourth-generation lobster fisherman, believed the series would offer an insight into the day-to-day conditions faced by cray fishermen.

“Some of the fishermen work offshore in a lot of rough weather while other crews work in amongst the swells and the breakers,” he said.

In total, 12 Tasmanians were employed to film the project which was produced by Winning Post Productions and Firebird Entertainment.