Geraldton Fishermen’s Co-operative resumes daily shipment of lobster to China following tariffs being lifted

The main body behind Geraldton’s western rock lobster industry says local shipments are going daily to China, following the tariffs being lifted late last year.

On December 20, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong celebrated the notification the ban had ended, calling it a “major win”.

Lobsters were the last of the major tariffs imposed by China to be lifted, with barley, wine, and cotton among the other industries previously having restrictions.

It took just days for Geraldton lobsters to be sent to the Asian nation, with small test shipments beginning on December 24.

Geraldton Fishermen’s Co-operative chief executive Marc Anderson said commercial volumes were being sent to multiple Chinese airports daily.

He said the market was an important one for the success of the industry.

“China is a large country with an appetite for clean, sustainable seafood, especially Western rock lobster,” Mr Anderson said.

“Since 2020, we’ve worked to expand our global trade and marketing footprint, building a presence in 22 markets.

“We expect China to play a significant role in our international marketing and trade activities.”

The rock lobster industry in Australia had been worth about $450 million a year before the tariffs came in.

Mr Anderson was hopeful the industry would bounce back to similar levels.

“At this early stage, it’s difficult to say what the long-term outlook will be with China re-forming part of our global trade activities,” he said.

“However, as a sustainable fishery with a set catch quota, increasing the number of markets we supply improves the industry’s viability.

“Any increase in export earnings translates to increased job opportunities and economic activity for West Australians.”

Demand from China comes from their festive culture, where red lobster holds a significant symbolic meaning.

Lobster is often used for weddings and during major festive seasons, such as the upcoming Lunar New Year, where it is a symbol of prosperity and good luck.

There was speculation of difficulties in the local market for lobster given the demand for crayfish overseas.

However, Mr Anderson said local access to seafood was a priority.

“The western rock lobster industry is the largest single-species fishery in Australia and boasts world-class sustainability credentials,” he said.

“Given the scale, we need to act globally but think locally. Thanks to effective management, people can purchase crayfish from restaurants and retailers or directly from fishers at their local wharves, and we support fantastic community events like the Blessing of the Fleet.

“WA crayfish is iconic, and maintaining community access remains a priority for our fishery.”