Fish n’ Chip eaters quizzed on taste for Australian vs overseas fish

We ask customers on The Strand if Australian sourced seafood is important. See how they responded.

We asked customers at Harolds Seafood on the Strand if Australian seafood mattered when they bought fish and chips, and what their favourite fish was.

This comes after the state and federal governments banned gillnet fishing in North Queensland.

Fish and Chips operators say this will affect accessibility of fresh supply of their locally caught barramundi.

Chris Hughes, 67, from Cranbrook, said a Catholic upbringing had influenced the preference for fish in her family’s diet.

However, she focused on buying Australian products over anything else.

“It supports the economy here and fish and chips is a staple, fish two to three times a week.”

Mackerel was her fish of choice.

“It’s reasonably priced, I do prefer it to barramundi, melt in your mouth, it’s just a delicious flavour, it’s not too fishy if you know what I mean.

Chris Hughes, from Cranbrook, said she tries to buy Australian products over anything imported.

“It’s really bizarre when you’re talking fish and chips but sometimes you can get a fish that’s a bit too fishy so I find mackerel’s a good selection because you don’t know whether you’re getting farm barramundi or fresh barramundi from the sea.”

Wayne Jefferis, 68, from Mount Louisa, said he did not want to eat imported fish whatsoever.

“If it’s overseas I won’t buy it.

Wayne Jefferis, from Mount Louisa, Townsville, said the standards of Australian fish were higher than from unlabelled product from Asian markets. Photo: Chris Burns.

“Barramundi, mackerel, snapper, those are probably the main ones, because of the taste and the availability.

“Like with barramundi you can go now and get reasonable barramundi because the way its processed and supplied to restaurants.”

For Ric and Dixie Anderson, of Port Dennison, Western Australia, fishing had fed their family for almost 50 years.

Mr Anderson, 82, said he did not like to eat imported fish.

“Most imported fish I’ve tried is rubbish,” he said.

“We are spoiled, we keep the best fish, I’m a fisherman.”

Ric Anderson, from Port Dennison, WA, said he had been fishing almost 50 years. He preferred the freshness of the food he caught over imported products. Photo: Chris Burns.

Mrs Anderson preferred whiting for its sweet taste and availability, while Mr Anderson enjoyed the West Australian dhufish because of its size, and because “I can go out and catch them.”

Jerome Teurquetil, 48, was visiting from Ivory Coast, Africa, to help his daughter transition to a working holiday in Australia.

“I like coral trout, snapper, mackerel, they are very fresh, but I didn’t try flat head, they say it’s good too,” Mr Teurquetil said.

“Why? Because it’s very fresh and I like white meat … so for me it’s very tasty.”

Joshua Marychurch said that Australians should "get amongst it" and eat locally caught fish and chips. Picture: Chris Burns.

Joshua Marychurch, 39, from Rasmussen, said he also preferred Australian sea food when he ate fish and chips.

“We have got so many good fish on the reef.

“You might as well get amongst it and get into them.

“I don’t mind the old whiting, you know, classic.”

Originally published as Fish n’ Chip eaters quizzed on taste for Australian vs overseas fish