Lobsters on hold while China link assessed

The Geraldton Fishermen’s Co-Operative will stop receiving crayfish from 7pm today until at least next Wednesday, maybe longer.

The shock announcement to local crayfishers is in reaction to the coronavirus threatening the health of people in China.

The decision by the GFC has been made in “the interest of market stability”.

It comes in the middle of the Chinese New Year, when local crayfish were in big demand.

“The situation in China is extremely uncertain at present,” local crayfishermen were told in an email by the Co-Op.

“This will give time for the GFC to make a better assessment of the situation in China. Catch will only be received until 7pm tonight (Friday).”