Lobster back on their menu, not ours!

IN 2019, before the ban on Australian rock lobster was put in place, more than 90 per cent of the Australian catch was exported to China.

Good on them! Figures from the Australian agriculture department showed the market was worth about A$750 million-a-year (US$517 million).

Now, with the Prime Minister Anthony Albanese making a renewed push for the return of lobster supplies, when he meets the Chinese President Xi Jinping this week, it looks as if lobster is back on the menu again.

And the news might come, just in time, for the opening of the Rock Lobster locally on November 14.

“We brought in some lobster from South Australia, for the long weekend, but the season opens locally on November 14,” said Ryan Stephens at the San Remo Fisherman’s Co-op this week.

But, where the co-op has been selling cooked crays for $105 per kg up until recently, the return of demand from China will inevitably drive prices higher, for the fishermen, and the Aussie customers.

“We’d certainly welcome it if China came back in, but yes, would expect the prices to go up,” said Ray.

So, if you fancy a feed of crayfish between now and Christmas, you might be well advised to jump on one when the first rock lobster of the new season is landed in a week or two’s time.

After that, the delicacy might be out of the reach or most Australian customers.