Prized prawns netting hopes

THERE is good news for the boats in the northern prawn fishery contained in the latest tiger prawn survey results from the Gulf of Carpentaria.

THERE is good news for the boats in the northern prawn fishery contained in the latest tiger prawn survey results from the Gulf of Carpentaria.

While indications are the coming banana prawn season will be an average one at best, the survey results for the prized tiger prawns point to the prospect of a bumper season.

Fleet-master for Austfish, Hilton Bell, said while the average catch of tiger prawns last season was 45 tonnes per boat the outlook for the 2015 season is far more positive.

“We’d hope with that sort of (survey) info we’d be looking at 50-60 tonnes per boat, which is a very good catch,” Mr Bell said.

He did stress that indications from the survey indicated stronger results in certain regions of the Gulf, particularly around the Vanderlin Islands and Groote Eylandt.

Mr Bell made his comments as crews were preparing for the banana prawn season, which runs from April to June.

The trawlers from the northern prawn fleet will begin dropping their nets for banana prawns from April 1.

“We’ve had a poor Wet, so we’re not expecting a great banana season.

“But you’ve got to remain hopeful.’’

Mr Bell said banana prawns fetched an average of $11 a tonne but tigers were worth up to $20 a tonne.

But the 50 boats of the northern prawn fishery fleet will not begin targeting tiger prawns until August.

During the four-month tiger prawn season crews generally worked 16 hours a day, seven days a week.

To maximise the output on board the trawlers they are resupplied at sea by barge.

“Most people don’t step ashore. If you work it out that’s nearly a full year’s work in four months,” Mr Bell said.