‘Game changer’ to get fresh Tassie produce into Asia

New mercy flights to Hong Kong will allow fresh Tasmanian produce to make it into international markets, but there are still crays going cheap for locals. WHERE YOU CAN GET THEM >>

• Tasmanian community rallies behind cheap crayfish
• Live crays sell like hot cakes to Tassie locals

FRESH Tasmanian produce will be flown into hungry Asian markets rather than rot on wharves or sweat on tarmacs under a mercy freight flight deal with Cathay Pacific.

The flights from Hobart to Hong Kong will allow fresh Tasmanian produce to make it into international markets as trade difficulties with China continue.

Up to 40 tonnes of seafood, cherries and berries, dairy and meat will be able to be carried on the Cathay Pacific flights which will fly, via Melbourne, from December 16.

The service will use a Boeing 777-300 which was converted by the airline for freighter use during the pandemic.

Tasmanian Rock Lobster Fishermen’s Association executive John Sansom said using Hong Kong as a hub would be a great benefit as producers look to establish new Asian markets.

“While it will not solve the issues with China it will help us develop those smaller markets. Already a small shipment of rock lobsters has gone to Taiwan and another to Vietnam,” Mr Sansom said.

Booran skipper Jack Tatnell who is selling crays at Margate. Picture Chris Kidd

Tatnell’s Live Rock Lobster is unsure yet what the new flights might mean for their business but is watching the situation with interest.

“We are selling your crayfish locally because our buyer who then onsells to China is not taking them at the moment,” Chelsea Tatnell said.

In the meantime, the family continues to fish and are selling live rock lobster from their boat Booran at Margate Wharf and taking cooked crays to Hobart’s Farmgate Market.

They’re currently selling for $60/kilo.

The Tasmanian Seafood Industry Council has called the new service a game changer saying it would not only solve a short-term problem but could open the door for a longer-term international freighter service from Hobart into Asia.

“Tasmania’s seafood exporters are hugely supportive of this new flight path” Chief Executive of the Tasmanian Seafood Industry Council Julian Harrington said.

“Having highly perishable, live product in a controlled temperature environment from

Hobart to Hong Kong is a game changer, as it means our product will not run the risk of

sitting on the tarmac in Melbourne and Sydney during the heat of summer.

Tasmanian Seafood Industry Council chief executive Julian Harrington and president Lindsay Newman. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

“Landing in Hong Kong opens access to a diversity of international destinations in South East

and Northern Asia” said Mr Harrington.

“Getting our premium seafood product, such as rock lobster and abalone, into existing

export markets and opening up new export opportunities will create significant opportunity

for seafood and reaffirm Tasmania’s status as a producer of quality products”.

“We thank the Tasmanian Government for their support of this new international freight

service, and we look forward to the potential for a longer term international freighter

services from Hobart to Asia”.

Primary Industries Minister Guy Barnett called the flights “fantastic news and another vote of confidence in our world-class premium produce that is highly sought after right across the world.”

Minister Trade Jeremy Rockliff said the service would provide access, through Hong Kong, to a wide range of connecting international destinations in South East and Northern Asia which would test the market capacity for potential future international freighter services from Hobart to Asia.

The service will operate up to three times per week from December 16 to February 10, 2021.