If you’ve always wanted lobster for Christmas, now’s your chance with the price of the luxury crayfish rivalling prawns and Moreton Bay bugs.
Thanks to China’s ban on Australian lobster imports, locals can enjoy the usually expensive crustaceans at a much-reduced price – many for the first time.
Seafood markets across the Sunshine Coast are stocking Western Australian and southern rock lobsters that would normally be destined for the Chinese market.
And the prices are so low – in some cases half of what lobsters normally cost – that they are considered the best value seafood for your Christmas spread this year.
Paul Thomas, from Point Cartwright Seafoods, said lobster was not usually sold in large quantities during the festive season because of the price, but this year they were better value than many prawns.
“People should take advantage of a once-only opportunity to have lobster on the Christmas table,” said Mr Thomas.
“I think they are better value than prawns this year.
“I think people who would normally have mud crabs would want to swap them for lobster. Mud crabs are expensive because of the drought and short supply.”
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At Point Cartwright Seafood Market, WA rock lobsters are priced at about $42 each (average size 700 to 750 grams) – almost half of what they cost last year when they were $80 each.
They are selling southern rock lobsters (from South Australia and Tasmania) for $80/kg (compared to $150kg last year).
Seafood Market@Caloundra has WA rock lobsters for $55 each (or $80 to $90 per kilo) compared to $155kg last Christmas. Their NQ Painted Crayfish are $69kg.
Fisheries on the Spit is anticipating its first-ever shipment of WA lobsters which will retail at about $80kg.
It comes as Woolworths was forced to place purchasing limits on WA rock lobsters after slashing the price to $20 each for Christmas and sparking a buyer frenzy.
Patrick Combettes, from Fisheries on the Spit, said the Australia-China trade feud had meant many Australians would be able to taste lobster for the first time.
“We didn’t have any WA lobster last year but we had Tasmanian lobster which was $180kg,” he said.
“This year Australians will get to enjoy Australian seafood and I think that is great, although it’s not great for the fishermen.”
Seafood Market@Caloundra owner Matt Taylor said wild caught prawns and Moreton Bay bugs were in short supply this year.
“This year there is a massive shortage of wild caught prawns and bugs due to extremely low catch rates. As a result prices are driven up,” said Mr Taylor.
“It’s probably the dearest I have seen it in 10 years.
“On the bright side lobsters are the cheapest I have seen them in 10 years due to no demand overseas.”
Woolworths expects its customers to buy fives times more WA rock lobster this year (35 tonnes compared to just 6.5 tonnes last year).
Woolworths head of meat and seafood Tim Dudding said the supermarket was purchasing more WA rock lobster to support the industry.
“It’s a win-win partnership, and we look forward to working with the industry to offer Australian households the chance to add premium seafood to their Christmas table this year at a more affordable price.”
Australian lobster is one of a number of export commodities that China has targeted in a worsening trade dispute with Canberra.
Beijing has also launched trade strikes against Australian coal, barley, wine, beef, and timber.
Australian farmers were effectively blocked from exporting barley to China in June when import taxes of 80.5 per cent were imposed.
Australia has announced it will be taking the barley dispute to the World Trade Organisation.
Trade minister Simon Birmingham is also seeking answers from China over its apparent indefinite blocking of Australian coal.
