The Queensland Government is inviting Queenslanders to support the seafood industry this holiday season by eating plenty of prawns, scallops, crab, and fish.
Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries and Minister for Rural Communities Mark Furner said including seafood on the menu is healthy and benefits Queensland’s coastal fishing communities, aquaculture farmers, retailers, fish and chip shops, and restauranteurs.
“Once again Queenslanders are spoiled for choice when it comes to seafood. For freshness, price, and variety Queensland is Australia’s hub for great seafood. Out iconic Queensland prawns are in great demand in NSW and Victoria. We now have the fastest growing aquaculture sector in the nation,” Minister Furner stated.
Queensland Seafood Marketers Association President Ian Hamilton advised consumers to take advantage of all the seafood available this Christmas.
“While production costs have risen Queensland prawn and fish prices remain competitive and good value,” Hamilton said.
According to Hamilton, consumers can anticipate paying $27 per kilo for wild-caught Queensland northern kings and $35 per kilo for Queensland’s favourite huge wild-captured tigers.
“There are plenty of top quality, well-priced farmed tiger and banana prawns too. Tropical lobsters from the Torres Strait, Queensland east coast sand crabs and prized Moreton Bay bugs are plentiful. Large Moreton Bay bugs retailing around $65 a kilo. People are being spoilt for choice with Queensland tiger prawns, squid, scallops as well as prime table fish – red emperors, snappers, Sunshine Coast tuna and our own Queensland barramundi to choose from,” Hamilton added.
Minister Furner said that according to ABARES, aquaculture now accounts for 56 per cent of overall fisheries production and is continuously rising.
“There is plenty of room in the Queensland market for both wild-caught and quality farmed seafood, and the Palaszczuk Government’s commitment to growing the industry here is paying dividends and creating more regional jobs,” Minister Furner stated.
Aquaculture production in Queensland established a new record last year, primarily from barramundi and prawns.
Almost 1200 tonnes were collected, totalling $193 million and employing 786 full-time workers.
Australian Prawn Farmers Association Chief Executive Kim Hooper stated that farmed prawn operations are rapidly expanding and experiencing a blockbuster season.
“In fact, eleven thousand tonnes of prawns will be harvested over the next few months. That is a two thousand tonne increase on last year alone. And plenty will be available in a variety of sizes and prices to meet your budget right through till Easter next April,” Hooper said.
According to Minister Furner, since 1999-2000, the aquaculture sector’s overall value has expanded at an annual rate of 6.6 per cent per year, with the long-term production average indicating annual growth of 7.1 per cent.
“The Government’s commitment and support to growing the industry is paying dividends and creating more regional jobs,” Minister Furner said.
Minister Furner stated that Toomulla Beach, near Townsville, currently has the world’s first commercial hatchery for tropical rock lobsters, with the goal of expanding the species to commercial levels.
“This trailblazing venture aims to produce 1,000 tonnes of lobsters annually over the next 10 years. The importance of aquaculture to Queensland is impressive with the sector contributing 55.3% of total fisheries production in 2021,” the Minister added.
He said that as the sector expands, hundreds more Queenslanders will be employed in the regions, helping to supply Australia’s insatiable demand for Queensland seafood.
“So, when you’re at your local fish supplier, be sure to ask for Queensland seafood to back in our hard-working commercial fishers and aquaculture farmers,” the Minister added.
The Fish Factory in Morningside, one of Brisbane’s largest wholesale and busiest retail outlets, is getting ready for Christmas.
Owner Andrew Solomon anticipates that his popular retail shop alone will have sold up to 15 tonnes of prawns by this Sunday.
“We are on track to sell up to 500 kg of swimmer crabs and 350 kg of mud crabs over the counter this week alone. There are some very good value seafood items you can add to the Christmas table this year. One is Calamari at round $20 kg. And people could even try baking a whole fish as a table centre piece for approximately $50 which would be enough to feed from 4–6 people,” Solomon said.
