A SUMMER Christmas brings its own traditions, including a preference for fresh, local seafood, Ferguson Australia export and marketing manager Eliza Ferguson says.
Ms Ferguson said lobster sales – particularly for cooked or their newly-launched frozen lobster – had been good in the lead up to Christmas.
“It’s good to see local support for local fisherman,” she said.
Ms Ferguson said the lobster season traditionally ran from October 1 through to the end of May but there was generally a lift in supply at this time.
“Christmas is always high demand for lobsters,” she said.
“There is a tradition that Christmas for Australians, and particularly South Australians, they love seafood and it’s what we have to celebrate.
“They want something fresh and light in summer and they turn to seafood.”
South Australian Northern Zone Rock Lobster Fishermen’s Association president Aaron Whittle said the fishing had started slow but had picked up again in recent weeks.
The Northern Zone fishery, which covers the waters from the mouth of the River Murray to the WA border, is divided into inner and outer regions, each with separate quotas.
Mr Whittle said fishers started in the inner zone where the quota was bigger but boats would head to the outer zone after Christmas.
He said lobster size was on the smaller end of the scale, but this was a positive sign for seasons to come.
Lobster prices last year were down on 2016 with those between 1.5 kilograms and 2kg getting $50/kg and more than 2kg lobsters getting $45/kg.
But Mr Whittle said prices this year were in a good spot.
“Prices are about $80/kg to $90/kg,” he said. “The price is helping, we are really price-dependent these days.”
Mr Whittle said it was always difficult to predict the season at such an early stage but the signs were mostly positive.
Elizabeth Anderson
Editor of Stock Journal.
Editor of Stock Journal.
