Tassie seafood catches flight to Hong Kong as valuable cargo service resumes

Crates full of live rock lobster and abalone will be loaded on to an A350-900 airbus, signalling the resumption of a cargo service that takes fresh Tassie produce directly to key Asian markets.

CRATES full of live rock lobster and abalone will be loaded on to an A350-900 airbus at Hobart Airport on Monday, signalling the resumption of a cargo service that takes fresh Tasmanian produce directly to key Asian markets.

The flight to Hong Kong is the first in a regular Cathay Pacific cargo service that will run over summer, transporting not only Tasmanian-caught seafood, but also fresh produce such as cherries.

Michael Blake checks on rock lobster bound for Asia on Monday. Picture: Mireille Merlet

Michael Blake, Tasmanian manager of seafood exporter SALCO, said the flights would provide a boost to businesses hurt by Covid-19 disruptions to domestic and international markets.

“It’s been a nightmare and I’m sure it’s been the same for many other industries that rely on air travel,” Mr Blake said.

“There has been ongoing uncertainty with domestic cargo and an inconsistency of flights. It has been especially difficult due to lockdowns in Melbourne and Sydney, both of which are major export hubs in Australia that connect the industry to Asia.

“(The) cargo services will greatly assist our industry. Our product is live and requires

time-sensitive cargo to ensure produce arrives fresh. This is something we have not had from

the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.”

A Cathay Pacific cargo plane will on Monday take off with a load of fresh Tasmanian seafood. Picture: AFP

Mr Blake, also executive officer of the Australian Southern Rock Lobster Exporters Association, said Tasmania’s lobster fishery was about 1000 tonnes annually, 90 per cent of which required a flight off the island. Prior to Covid, about 70 per cent of the total volume had been exported to international buyers, with mainland China a major market.

Cathay Pacific regional head of cargo Nigel Chynoweth said the fresh produce and live seafood would be transported from Hobart to Asian markets, including Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines.

It is the second year Cathay Pacific has operated a seasonal “cargo only” service

from Hobart to Hong Kong. In 2020 the service was in operation for eight weeks and has this year been expanded to 12 weeks, operating through to end of February 2022.

“As a result of the ongoing uncertainty of domestic air bridges to key Australian ports, our service plays a vital role in ensuring local Tasmanian produce is delivered in a time-sensitive manner, arriving fresh for consumers to enjoy across a range of Asian markets,” Mr Chynoweth said.

Tasmanian cherry producers will also be a big user of the cargo service.

Tasmania Minister for Trade Guy Barnett said in the past 12 months the state’s fresh produce exports to Hong Kong of Tasmanian rock lobster, Atlantic salmon, cherries and beef had brought in more than $24m to the economy.