SUCCULENT seafood will be in hot demand this Christmas with prawns caught in waters off North Queensland in plentiful supply.
The North’s commercial fishers called an end to their prawn season on December 15 with an abundance of crustaceans to be distributed across Queensland.
NQ Marina Fresh Seafood manager Lucas Dansie, who unloads fresh prawns straight from the trawlers at the Townsville marina, said he expected they would sell four tonnes of prawns on Christmas Eve alone.
“As usual they are pretty good quality and reasonable prices,” Mr Dansie said.
“We are Australia wide wholesalers as well so we get the pick of the best off the trawlers and have the best prices as well. We’re a bit spoiled.”
Mr Dansie said large red spot prawns, caught only off the North Queensland coast would again be in demand and sell locally for about $34 a kilogram.
But those in southern markets could expect to pay more, with the demand for the popular prawns unable to keep up with supply.
He said bugs were also popular at Christmas and this year would be slightly more expensive at $38/kg.
Lounds Fresh Seafood owner Col Lound said it had been a good season for fishermen in North Queensalnd with a plentiful supply of prawns and crustaceans.
“With red spot kings and local tiger prawns, there will be no shortage for people in North Queensland,” Mr Lound said.
“Prices might be slightly higher than last year, but we have a ready supply.
“The trawlers guys had quite a good year up and down the coast, they caught plenty of king tiger prawns and this year for the first time in a while we actually had a little bit of wet season so there’s a nice supply of banana prawns.”
Arabon Seafood managing director Terry Must said bugs, prawns and scallops caught from the Gulf of Carpenteria to Hervey Bay would be in plentiful supply.
Mr Must said mud crabs were fetching $60/kg two weeks ago at the Sydney Fish Market, but as supply increased they should come back to the mid-$30s.
“The storms and the weather is going to start the mud crabs for us, they have been dormant for the last four months, but the second week in December the mud crabs start to get flushed out of holes, so it’s great for everybody.
“Weather events does some good for fisheries, if there’s a drought on the land there can be a drought on the seas.
“Christmas is the biggest demand of the year for seafood and every wholesaler on the coast is geared up for it now.
“There’s excellent quality, and while there will probably be a few less of the red spot kinds, the tigers, endeavours and banana prawns are plentiful.”
Mr Must said he would be selling prawns for the high $20s to early $30s, with scallops and mud crabs a bit dearer.
He said seafood would likely be slightly dearer in capital cities.
“We always have a good supply here the harbor accommodates trawlers and fishing boats.”
Mr Must said he would be filling 300 seafood orders for Christmas while also taking walk ins.
