$2m to get lobster to new markets

A $1.9 million grant awarded to Geraldton Fishermen's Co-operative to grow overseas exports is expected to increase its customer base by 20 per cent.

The grant is part of the federal government’s Agricultural Trade and Market Access Cooperation Program, which has distributed $15.3 million to date.

Geraldton Fishermen's Co-operative estimated the grant would increase its customer base by around 20 per cent over 18 months from the completion of the project.

More lobster is expected to be exported to a range of existing trade partners, including Japan, Dubai and France, and to the new markets of South Korea and Mexico.

Geraldton Fishermen’s Cooperative Matt Rutter said the funding would allow them to produce a more diversified range of products for the global market.

Agriculture Minister David Littleproud said the grant would help promote Australian seafood internationally.

“Producers now have access to Mexico for frozen eastern rock, western rock, tropical rock, southern rock and slipper lobsters which provides our industry with further diversification opportunities,” Mr Littleproud said.

“The enhancement and modernisation of rock lobster processing facilities will increase domestic processing capacity and lead to a surge of value-added exports to high value markets.

“Increased sales of high-quality lobster products will boost profitability, benefiting those employed right along the supply chain, and future proofing the industry.”

Federal Member for Durack Melissa Price said the grant supported an important industry in the region, at a time when it had been impacted by supply chain restrictions and COVID-19.

“It is predominantly a local industry made up of family businesses, local employees and significant capital investment, so providing some support to sustain this industry through these challenging times is a vote of confidence in a hardworking export earning industry,” Ms Price said.

China bought a majority of Australia's western rock lobster until November 2020, when trade tenions intensified. 

Other countries have slowly replaced China as a trading partner.

According to the Western Rock Lobster industry body, in October 2020, Australia sold $22 million worth of product to China. 

in January 2022, WA exported $180,000 worth of western rock lobster to China and $27 million worth of the product to other destinations.