Rising fuel costs and cheap imported prawns have crippled Queensland’s active trawlers, devastating the fishing industry. Lou Robson reports. Michelle West isn’t happy. The official spokeswoman of the Sunshine Coast trawler fleet walks Mooloolaba wharf in a black overcoat, her gold teeth flashing as she discusses Queensland’s ailing fishing industry. The trawler owner is agitated and pulls at her locket, a jewelled prawn, as she explains how rising fuel prices and cheap imported prawns have crippled the state’s 220 active boats. These factors, the former deckhand says, have made fishing unaffordable and could spark a national seafood strike. “Why do you think all these boats are here?” Ms West said, gesturing at 15 moored vessels. “We can’t afford to go to sea because of fuel costs, and even if we could no one would buy the product when we got back. “It’s a bad situation and something has to be done.” According to Ms West, the state’s trawlers have hit an all-time low. Many of the once-busy boats lie dormant, owners of the long-line tuna vessels, crab, fish and prawn boats unable to afford diesel because they can’t sell their prawns. It seems no one wants to pay more than $30 a kilogram for fresh, local produce when they could buy farmed Asian imports for about $11/kg. The Sunday Mail (Brisbane), June 29.
Jun 30
