Public rescues fishos
Cooks fill pandemic sales void
A FRESH wave of business optimism has cleared the decks for the Far North fishing industry to regain momentum from the coronavirus shutdown.
Export bans and restaurant shutdowns have had an acute effect on the livelihoods of operators across the supply chain, from fishermen to wholesalers and value-adders.
It was an immediate shock but in recent weeks something extraordinary has happened.
Independent Seafood Producers managing director David McAtamney said a rapid upswing in sales to home cooks had bolstered the retail business and ensured the industry’s survival.
The Federal Government’s JobKeeper program has meant none of ISP’s 15 fish market staff in Portsmith have been laid off – and tomorrow eight workers will be boiling prawns, smoking mussels and preparing product for the busier endof-week trade. The bottom line has copped a hit – particularly from the loss of restaurant trade – but Mr McAtamney said there was plenty of cause for confidence.
“At least half of our staff were engaged in that (restaurant supply) role, so we had to look at areas we could focus on to expand,” he said.
“It’s tidied up a few loose ends and we’ve expanded our retail operations considerably.
“Our primary goal is to keep moving product through.
“If we’re not playing that role, it’s not viable for our boats to stay at work, and we start to see failures within the fleet.”
Mr McAtamney hoped the COVID-19 crisis would serve as a public wake-up call about the importance of industry diversity beyond just tourism.
“The focus was always on tourism, and everything else disappeared in the wings,” he said. “Now is the time for everyone to realise these other industries are here.
“They have been doing things other than servicing the tourism industry, and they will still be here to service the tourism once it starts up again.”