Kuranda Fish Farm loses up to $8000 in barramundi stock after fisho heist

Owners of a Far North fish farm say they have been left devastated by a massive barramundi heist which occurred after they opened the property’s gates to the public.

Kuranda Fish Farm will be listed for sale this Saturday. The owners are seeking offers greater than $1.7m. Picture: File photo

The owners of a Tablelands fishing farm have lost thousands in barramundi stock after several fishos rocked up with trucks and tanks and made off with their catch, the farm’s manager has said.

Kuranda Fish Farm manager Sam Daly opened his gates to the community with a $5-per-fish deal to clear out the farm before it closed down.

Up to 3000 barramundi were available in the dam.

Mr Daly estimated up to $8000 worth of stock was taken. He said barramundi usually cost $16 per kilo and he was trying to be generous to a community that was battling through the cost-of-living crisis, but he later discovered through his security camera system that many people just nicked fish.

“What they forget is my grandma put in $60,000 to get this business up and running, plus the food to raise the barramundi from fingerlings,” Mr Daly said.

Kuranda Fish Farm manager Sam Daly said people stole up to $8000 worth of fish after he offered a cheap deal to the community. Picture: Brendan Radke

“My thinking was to do an amazing deal … with all these interest rates going up and people fighting for a meal I thought there would be no way people would steal the fish. So they either really needed them or they were really greedy.

“People did what they did. There’s not much you can do about it. It’s too much hassle now.”

The farm has operated for 30 years and distributed fish throughout Australia and overseas.

Mr Daly said he saw some people arrive with bulk container tanks and fill them with as many fish as they could without paying.

He said he has now closed the farm and the closing-down deal is no longer available.

“Some people, if you give them an inch they take a mile,” he said.

“I’ve messaged every single person telling them it was cancelled.”

Mr Daly said three people had already come forward to reimburse him for what they took.

“There’s been quite a response from the good people who have been nice about it. They messaged and apologised and sent me money,” he said.

The Kuranda Fish Farm, located at 168 Stoney Creek Rd, will be formally listed for sale on Saturday.

The asking price for the 66Ha property, which includes a residence and at least 15 barramundi ponds, starts at offers greater than $1.7m.

Originally published as Kuranda Fish Farm loses up to $8000 in barramundi stock after fisho heist