Seafood going at bargain prices
GOLD Coasters can upgrade their Christmas lunch menu with an ocean-sourced feast as local seafood prices take a dive.
Seafood industry veterans canvassed by the Bulletin this week say lobsters will be half the price this year and prawns will be around the $35-$55-akilogram mark.
Charis Seafood spokesman Regan Stamoudis said the Labrador shop was selling lobsters for around $70 a kilogram or around $35 each.
“They are half the price this year, which is exciting. They are normally more than $120 a kilogram,” he said.
“Moreton Bay bugs are around $40 a kilogram, normally they’re around the $60 mark. A kilogram gives you around four to five animals and similar meat to lobster.”
Varsity Lake’s Tasman Star Seafood lobsters are popular and priced around the $99/kg mark.
Co-owner Matt Duncombe said prawns, oysters, and bugs were also “hot this year”.
“It’s a lobster feast this year,” he said. “We are anticipating to sell more than 3500 oysters on Christmas Eve.
“There is plenty of stock. It puts us in a unique position having our own prawn trawlers, so we won’t run out of prawns and we will have plenty of oysters.”
However, those seeking fresh local prawns around the southern Gold Coast or Northern Rivers might not be so lucky.
Ballina Fishermen’s Co-Op CEO Phillip Hillard said customers in that area need to get in early on Christmas Eve as recent wet weather had impacted local prawn stock numbers. “Catches this week haven’t been as plentiful as we thought they would be,” he said.
The Australian Marine Conservation Society’s Adrian Meder said seafood, such as eastern and western rock lobster, usually an expensive treat for Australians, is expected to be more affordable on domestic markets because of the current trade friction with China.
Tasman Star Seafood will be trading from 5am to 5pm on Christmas Eve, while Charis Seafood will be open from 3am to 6pm.