Locals shell out to snap up hundreds of Christmas crayfish
Fishermen have seen the smiles return to their faces after a couple of tough years, as locals grab thousands of crays for the Christmas table. WHERE TO FIND LAST-MINUTE SEAFOOD >>
Tasmania
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IN a “big thank you” to Tasmanians for their ongoing support during the coronavirus crisis, fisherman Brendan Taylor has sold 1200 crayfish weighing a total of 1000kg off the Margate jetty in the past three days.
The opportunity for local people to pick up a local cray at a good price was a “fun and rewarding” way for him and other fishermen to thank locals for keeping them afloat during the past two years.
Friend and fellow fisherman Clive Perryman has also had a busy time after completing a week-long trip to the West Coast to collect fresh crays for the Christmas table – and he has just 150 left to sell, which will be available at the Margate jetty from 9am on Thursday.
After China imposed severe restrictions to crayfish exports in 2020, the industry was left reeling, with 90 per cent of Australia’s lobster exports previously going to the country.
Mr Perryman said sales straight off the jetty were a huge support to him and fellow fishermen, allowing them to “pay our bills and living expenses”.
“We’ve gone backwards (after the restrictions), any capital we’ve built up to put back into the business is all eaten away now,” he said.
“But we still have our heads above water and are able to trade, Christmas really helps.
“If we sell a one-tonne load of crayfish to the factory, we get $35 a kilogram so $35,000, and if we sell off the wharf it’s an extra $15 a kilogram, so an extra $15,000 more for us.”
Mures director Will Mure said it was shaping up to be one of the business’s biggest Christmases, with 400kg of crayfish and 300kg of prawns on order to be collected in the next two days and the same figure again expected to be sold in casual door sales.
“People are looking forward to a lovely Christmas, relaxing and enjoying family time,” he said.
Blue eyed trevalla and ocean trout were also popular sales in the lead up to Christmas.
Constitution Dock Fresh Fish on Hobart’s waterfront have also been flat out, selling up to 30kg of prawns, 20kg of crayfish and 50kg of general seafood on Wednesday alone.
“We’ve got another 200 kilograms to sell so come down from 9am (Thursday) to get one, we will probably sell all that and need some more,” Axel Brower in fish sales said.
“We are expecting a busy day with a line out the door.”
Where to buy local crays this Christmas
Fishers selling affordable rock lobster fresh off the wharf have seen sales halve compared to this time last year.
Some are not bothering to head out on their boats this week, knowing their efforts will not be economical.
Others will try their luck to get a Christmas catch to sell over the weekend.
Bryce Way said the pandemic’s freeze on international markets has squeezed the industry yet again in the lead up to Christmas.
The cray fisher hadn’t worked for four months before November.
“Coming into November we had the boat ready and went to sea for six days,” Mr Way said.
“We did incredibly well, we got a good dollar and made some money.”
But the price plummeted a week later as sales went stale.
“You’ve got to question whether it’s worth going to sea or not,” Mr Way said.
Mr Way said the rock lobsters he fished on the south and southwest coast were less consistent in size than their East Coast counterparts, which have a cap limit forcing fishers to go elsewhere.
He said rock lobsters that weren’t snapped up by customers were offloaded to larger processors who onsold the crays for a profit.
“That’s a very small price for our fish, it just doesn’t cover bills properly,” Mr Way said.
Minnamurra II skipper and owner Clive Perryman sells his crayfish at the Margate Wharf along with a group of local fishers.
Mr Perryman said to make a profit the rock lobsters needed to sell at or above $55 per kilogram. Mr Way said across the state many rock lobsters were sold at $50 per kilogram.
Mr Perryman encouraged locals to head to Margate for their Christmas seafood.
“It’s a bit of an experience, it’s not just getting a cray, everyone likes to have a bit of a chat,” he said.
Mr Perryman said some customers from who came to support the industry during the SARS outbreak in the mid-2000s had returned years later.
He hoped people travelling to Margate for their rock lobster would take the opportunity to try nearby wine trails and cheese trails and support local tourism.
Tasmanian Rock Lobster Association president Karl Krause said this was the first time in 30 years he wasn’t out on his boat before Christmas.
“We’re thinking the price is going to be far better when the borders do reopen,” he said.
Mr Krause said changes needed to be streamlined to switch focus from the Chinese market to domestic buyers and cater to the ready-to-eat market.
“A lot of the process is putting in cooking gear – no one wants a live rock lobster, you don’t decide to have a steak and buy the whole cow.”
Where to buy local crays this Chrissie
Stanley
Hursey Seafood are selling the shellfish at a low price on the North West Coast.
Their current prices are between $50 per kilogram and $90 per kilogram, depending on size and whether the rock lobster is sold cooked or live.
Updated Christmas rock lobster prices will be posted on their Facebook page this Friday.
Order by 7pm Thursday to collect Friday-Sunday via crayfish@hurseyseafoods.com.au
More information: facebook.com/Hursey-Seafoods-702242673126705
Bicheno
The rock lobster shack is a year-round destination for seafood by the water, but the restaurant has ramped up its Christmas and New Years efforts.
Christmas orders are open until Friday, with the option to pick up crays before 4pm December 24.
New Year’s Eve orders close on December 30 for pick-up by 4pm December 31.
Southern rock lobsters are going at market price while platters of rock lobster, oysters and king prawns are $70.
More information: lobstershacktasmania.com.au
Cambridge
Fresh cooked Tasmanian southern rock lobster is selling at Tasmanian Gourmet Seafoods at $70 per kilogram.
The sizes vary from about $49 per cray to $63 per cray.
Tasmanian Gourmet Seafoods are offering Christmas pick-ups from all major Australian airports on December 22, or from 50 Loop Rd, Cambridge before 6pm on December 23 and before 2pm on December 24.
More information: tasmaniangourmetseafoods.com.au
Hobart
Mures Fishmongers are back on the docks and will accept seafood orders until Monday for Christmas.
Whole cooked rock lobsters weighing 700-800g will sell at market price.
Mures is trading 8am-9pm seven days, and will be closed Christmas Day.
More information: mures.com.au
Triabunna
Iconic East Coast monger the Fish Van in Triabunna is offering crayfish, prawns or oysters for Christmas pick-up this year.
Customers can pick up orders on December 23 and 24.
In September, the Mercury subscribers voted the Fish Van as Tassie’s best fish and chips spot.
More information: thefishvan.com.au
Margate
The infamous wharf at the end of Gemalla Rd is where punters can get fresh, live rock lobster straight from the boat for a decent price.
The subject of hit show Aussie Lobster Man, Squizzy Taylor, has been known to sell the creatures at the site, as well as other areas across Tasmania in his van.
Bryce Way and Clive Perryman can often be found at the wharf.
The cray hunters typically fish during the week and sell crays over Friday-Sunday.
More information on Squizzy’s sales facebook.com/aussielobsterman
More information on Mr Perryman, Mr Way and the gang facebook.com/lobsterfishingtas
Kings Meadows
Kyeema Seafoods is taking Christmas orders for pick up until December 22.
The popular provider has had pick-ups booked out for December 24, but slots are available for people to collect their lobster and other seafood on December 23.
Christmas crays upwards of 1kg are sold out, but sizes between 600-999g are available.
More information kyeemaseafoods.com.au/christmas-2021
Devonport
Up north, you can get your seafood dose from Strait Off the Boat restaurant in Devonport.
Crayfish are available for Christmas both live and cooked, though keep in mind cooked varieties will weigh up to 1.5kg and no higher.
More informationfacebook.com/straitofftheboat
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