Glenn ‘Snoddy’ Jager says three ‘really hard’ years has left him and the cray fishing industry broken

‘No fishermen no industry’. Cray fishing flows through generations of the Jager family — but that could end with the next generation advised to seek other opportunities. Find out why.

Dover fisherman Glen Jager and his father Warren Jager, in 2019

Glenn “Snoddy” Jager is a broken man.

Like many other fishermen he talks to, he says he is broken “mentally, physically and financially”.

The fourth generation cray fisherman hoped one day his 17-year-old son Ryan, who loves fishing and being on the boat with his father would take over when he retired.

“I was going to train him but I haven’t got it in me to keep fishing because of the anxiety attacks and he got offered an apprenticeship and I said ‘take it mate, you don’t want to have to put up with this life, it’s stupid,” Mr Jager said.

“I have real bad anxiety attacks when I’m fishing and the mental health of the fishermen in industry is just absolutely buggered, it’s just unbelievable,” he says.

Dover fisherman Glen Jager and his son Ryan.

“We’ve had three really hard years where the price we’re getting has just been crap, we can’t make any money, it’s just crazy. We’re doing all this work and you can’t make any money, it’s just not viable.

“The quota price needs to come down so fishermen can make something out of it but that’s never going to happen because the investors have bought pots for probably like up to $100,000 a unit and they want the biggest return they can get on their investment, but they’re not willing to budge.”

Like others he wants regulations changed to ensure fishermen receive a fair profit margin from processors.

“I’ve talked to a lot of fisherman in the last few weeks who are going through the same mental health and financial pressures as me, and they are absolutely over it.

“In the last five years, 72 cray fishermen that I know have retired or chucked it in for financial reasons. There’s only 102 cray fisherman left.

“I’m just wondering who’s going to catch all the lobster quota as there are no new and young fishermen coming along, as they can’t afford to get into the industry.”

Glen Jager's son Ryan as a 7yo, and a good catch of Tassie crays.

In a post on social media, in which he was described as an “inspiration’, Mr Jager said he was “only just surviving”.

“No fishermen no industry,” he wrote.

One fisherman wrote: “We are all struggling just turning money over paying tax and lease and expenses and the fisherman are left with nothing.

“Three years this shit show has been going on with no foreseeable future it’s gut wrenching busting your arse for stuff all.

“I’m hearing you, your (sic) not on your own there mate.

“Your (sic) not alone Snod, can’t even keep up to maintenance …. only one decent break down away from going bust.”

Others wrote of struggling financially.

“Time is only ticking away here before I have to face the facts and pull the pin,” he said.

“We are all in the same boat mate.”

Ironically Mr Jager says fish stocks are great and in the “best condition I’ve ever seen”.