Australian rock lobsters at market (Photo: Stock File)

China abruptly stops importing Aussie rock lobster

AUSTRALIA
Monday, November 29, 2010, 23:50 (GMT + 9)

China has stopped importing rock lobsters from Australia pending ongoing negotiations with Australian officials. No explanation has been given to explain the ban.

China is Australia’s main market for rock lobsters. 

China’s decision is having a devastating impact on the industry, said Rodney Treloggen from the Rock Lobster Fishermen's Association.

"Up to probably 50-odd boats that are sitting out at sea at the moment around Tasmania that have fish on board, that can't unload," he said, ABC reports. "There is no capacity in the state for them to unload, the processors who hold live fish are at maximum capacity.

"It's disastrous at the moment, our processors are advising their fishers not to go to sea," he added.

Although Treloggen recognises that the ban is part of a major onslaught on exports for the Chinese market passing through Hong Kong to skirt high tariffs, the ban now also covers legitimate trade going through Shanghai and Beijing.

Port-side prices have taken a dive from as high as AUD 45 (USD 43.4) down to AUD 25 (USD 24.11).

At the same time, rock lobsters from New Zealand and South Africa are still being sold to China.

The ban will cost the rock lobster industry millions of dollars and affect South Australia (SA), Victoria, Tasmania and Western Australia (WA), according to Andrew Laurie, a lobster exporter from SA.

"We're at a loss to understand why it's only Aussie lobster that's being singled out," he said.

WA Fisheries Minister Norman Moore is requesting that the federal government conduct talks with Chinese officials, reports PerthNow.

The Western Rock Lobster Council said it is lobbying the federal government to reach a trade agreement with China so the industry can gain some certainty.

"China pays the best price for our lobster and without them in the market the price has dropped considerably," said official Nic Sofoulis. "We know that the buyers in China are actually talking with the Chinese government about the tariffs and things like that, but I think the main problem arises that Australia doesn't have a trade agreement as such with China, so we have to go through the back door."

By Natalia Real
[email protected]
www.seafood.media

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