By Brendan Rees
Kenneth Chi is feeling the pinch when it comes to selling flathead fillets at $49.99 per kilo.
Mr Chi, who is the manager of Fish Pier at Casey Central Shopping Centre in Narre Warren South says the price of locally caught fish has gone up since the State Government began phasing out commercial net fishing in Port Phillip Bay.
He says the price of flathead fillets has gone up nearly $10 per kilo in the past fortnight. “We’re selling less for that price. If they (fishermen) catch less the price goes up,” he said.
“If you’re talking about other fish shops that use the frozen stuff and then you compare to the shop with fresh cut in the morning of course you can’t compare,” he said. “What you pay is what you get.”
In a statement, the State Government says removing nets from the Gippsland Lakes will mean more fish for recreational anglers and more fishing tourists for the local economy, with all commercial licences to be removed by 2022.
This will aim to boost local tourism and create jobs, and grow fishing participation to one million anglers by 2020, the statement said.
However, Seafood Industry Victoria spokesman Jonathan Davies believes ban was “never necessary” which has seen a reduction of about 550 tonnes of seafood for consumers.
He said King George whiting prices have gone from $30kg to $90kg since the Port Phillip Bay buyback. “It’s to the point where most Victorian can’t eat it anymore.”
“We’ve seen over the last couple of months some extremely large busts of illegal and black market fishing operations,” he said.
“There is still a strong demand for Victorian seafood. We would be calling on anyone who has a complaint or an issue with availability in access to Victorian seafood to starting writing to their local member.
“Let’s show people that we actually care and deserve and want our own local product,” Mr Davies said.
Owner and fishmonger of Schwarze Seafoods in Dandenong Dennis Schwarze said the commercial net fishing ban was hurting his business.
“There are a number species that we hardly ever see any more now,” he says.
“We will be relying on interstate and overseas fish, and those prices will be phenomenal.”
He is a fourth generation of his family to run the business since his great aunt started Schwarze Seafoods in 1930.
“My customers come here because they can get good quality fresh Australia seafood, and they’ve been held to ransom by the current State Government,” he said.
Mr Schwarze said he used to pay $15kg for calamari at the market. “I’m paying in between $25 and $30 a kilo for calamari.”
“If you were new in this business you would be lost in this market.
“I’m coming to the end now of my career. The industry down the track is not looking real good.”
