Rock lobster prices expected to recover
High demand for rock lobster over the Easter period will push the beach price up, following a recent price slump.
The price per kilo being paid by the Geraldton Fishermen’s Co-operative has dropped almost $20 in the past three weeks, from an average of $60.78 to $41.33. Western Rock Lobster Council chief executive officer John McMath said this was not unexpected.
He said the export of rock lobster to China traditionally dropped at the beginning of April in the lead up to the Quingming Festival, also referred to as Tomb Sweeping Day.
The Quingming Festival is a time when family members pay respects to their ancestors and tend to family graves. The festival is held on the first day of the fifth solar term of the traditional Chinese lunisolar calendar, typically around April 2-7.
Mr McMath said Easter was usually a period of high demand for rock lobster, both domestically and internationally, provided it didn’t coincide with the Quingming Festival.
“The price should increase over the next week coming up to May Day celebrations as this is another big event in the Asian calendar, as long as supply from fishers does not increase above the demand in the China live market,” he said.
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