Big catch arrests lobster woes

A near-record catch and improving prices have helped the Western Australian rock lobster industry stave off the effects of the soaring dollar and post Sars issues this season.

It’s expected almost 13,000 tonnes will have been caught by the end of the season (June 30) – up 18 per cent on last year’s catch and 24 per cent on the 10-year average.

The high volumes helped offset the low beach prices and high Australian dollar, which hit the industry at the start of the season in November.

Beach prices have since increased from $17 to $24 to push the average season price to about $18.50.

However, this was down about 30 per cent of the previous year’s prices. Exports have also slightly declined with domestic sellers increasing their off-take by about 2 per cent.

Lobster hauls are predicted to decline over the next three seasons due to the reduced juvenile settlement three to four years ago.

Demand is expected to remain relatively rocky due to Asian demand – traditionally WA’s strongest market – and greater competition.

WA Rock Lobster Development Association chairman Tony Gibson said the industry, which is almost entirely export based, would fare reasonably well this season.

But he said the industry was still grappling with increasing competition from other countries with lower cost structures, such as Mexico and Cuba, and with relatively flat demand from Asia.

Mr Gibson said the flat demand from Asia was in part due to the effect of Sars, as well as changing attitudes.

He said Japan, which with Taiwan imports almost 70 per cent of WA’s rock lobster, were reluctant to hold any stock over the end of the financial year, which finishes in March for Japan.

Demand from a traditionally strong element of the Asian market – Japanese wedding banquets – has also been in decline in recent years.

As a result, Mr Gibson said, the industry was seeking new markets.

The European Union was one market the lobster industry was currently trying to open up.