Geraldton Fishermen's Co-operative's online meetings enable members to engage regularly with their management team. A summary of the most recent meeting is provided below.

Member Update

Update from Marc Anderson

• Marc provided updates on the recent meetings with the Department of Transport regarding landing and unloading space issues at Two Rocks Marina. The Department will complete a review, and we hope to provide an update to Members in an upcoming meeting.
• Marc encouraged any skippers or deckhands who hadn't attended the Council's DECK program to consider doing it this year. Refer to the article below for more details.
• Marc summarised some industry advocacy activities he has led and some upcoming advocacy plans in Canberra.

Update from Leith Teakle

• Leith reminded Members about their Co-operative's upcoming Annual General Meeting (AGM). Along with the AGM packs mailed to Members, Leith advised Members that they will vote on two ordinary resolutions and five special resolutions related to rule changes.
• Leith reminded members to review their proxy forms if they were unable to attend, with the forms due 48 hours before the AGM. Additionally, a director election is taking place. Leith encouraged all Members to review the director nomination packs and vote by 4 PM on November 6th. If Members have questions relating to director nominations or the AGM, please reach out to Leith. 
• Leith also provided an update on the proposal for DPIRD to allow the industry to return to graded weight declarations. The exemption will commence on the 1st November 2025. Details of the exception, including an FAQs from DPIRD can be accessed by downloading the links below.

Update from Michael May

• Michael presented updates on the Members app, highlighting new features and improvements set to launch in November. The enhancements, based on Member feedback, include trip confirmations, landing schedules, and bait order notifications.
• Michael encouraged Members with issues or suggestions to get in touch with screenshots of the app page and details of any issues or future improvements.
• Michael also introduced a mobile conveyor system being tested at depots for improved efficiency and safety. The team is seeking feedback on both the app updates and the mobile conveyor implementation.

Update from Bryan Keay

• Bryan provided a market update, noting that intake is 3% ahead of 2024 levels, with September intake matching 2024 levels. He explained that demand was softer during Golden Week and Mid-Autumn Festival due to increased competition from multiple suppliers, including Mexico, Vietnam, and Cuba.
• Bryan highlighted that Mexican lobster quality issues and Southern Rock's limited fishing ability due to weather.
• Bryan shared some pricing forecasts by grade for the balance of October and average beach prices season-to-date.
• Bryan presented data on the current state of A-size intake and sales. There were also some long-range forecasts for the beach price of an A size in December/ Whites based on current market intel and historical sales data.

The following Member online meeting, scheduled for mid-November will be announced soon. The meeting link will be emailed to Members before the meeting.

Annual General Meeting Reminder

Following the official notice that was mailed to Members last week, the Geraldton Fishermen's Co-operative's 76th Annual General Meeting will be held on Friday, 7th November 2025 at 2.30 pm at:

• Railway Football Club, Cnr Augustus Street & Francis Street, Geraldton; and
• GFC Board Room, 6 Molfetta Quays, Fremantle for a video link to the AGM.

All members are encouraged to attend the Annual General Meeting (AGM).The AGM is your opportunity to learn about your Co-operative first-hand from the Board and Management. It’s a chance to ask questions, meet the Management team and catch up with your fellow members.GFC will again be providing a bus services from Dongara and Kalbarri. Please contact Duck 0418 931 110 to reserve your seat.

Please RSVP to Alison Walker on 9965 9000 or click the button below to e-mail your RSVP.

75 Years Strong Anniversary Celebrations.

A heartfelt thank you to all our members and staff who joined us for the 75th Anniversary Dinners this month in Geraldton and Fremantle.

Your presence helped make these milestone events truly memorable, filled with warmth, reflection, and celebration of our shared journey.

We’d also like to acknowledge the incredible work of the Anniversary Committee, whose dedication and attention to detail brought the events to life. From planning to execution, their efforts ensured a fitting tribute to 75 years of history and community.

Relive the highlights and download your favourite memories by clicking on the image album links below.

Brolos Lobster at World Expo Osaka.

The World Expo runs for about 6 months and is believed to attract an average of 250,000 visitors per day. The Expo takes place on Yumeshima Island, spanning 155 hectares and featuring over 150 countries.

Last month, we were thrilled to participate in the showcase of Western Australian produce. Premier Roger Cook visited the Australia Pavilion to highlight WA's reputation as a trusted supplier of gourmet produce, while Chef Silas Masih thrilled international audiences with exquisite Brolos lobster dishes.

The Western Rock Lobster exemplifies WA's commitment to quality and sustainability, reinforcing our state's status as a leader in responsibly sourced food.

Lobster Legend Program - Celebrating Excellence & Inspiring Greatness.

Each month, GFC recognises an outstanding team member through the Lobster Legend Program. This peer-nominated initiative celebrates GFC employees who embody our core values (Safety, Productivity, Continuous Improvement, Quality and Respect) and go above and beyond for our co-operative.

In September, we recognised Kyle Bothe from Leeman:

Kyle has made an extraordinary impact since joining in 2024. Whether he’s troubleshooting tech, rolling up his sleeves to clean live tanks, or setting the gold standard for storeroom and office tidyness, Kyle brings excellence, humility, and a steady hand to everything he does. 

Congratulations, Kyle, and thanks for your contributions! We'll bring you more Lobster Legends in future editions.

DECK Program, Applications Closing Soon

The Western Rock Lobster Council will deliver their DECK program next month. This program is open to all WRL members, skippers, deckhands and commercial fishers. Fishers who have attended the program in the past have highlighted the following benefits for their career development;

• Enhance your industry knowledge and skills.
• Professional development
• Networking and collaboration
• Gain practical insights to support your own growth
• Mentorship and guidance
• Career pathways and opportunities

The DECK Program is open and available to anyone in the Western Rock Lobster industry at no cost. Find out more here.

UK Seafood Consumption Declines.

Seafood consumption in the UK has dropped 13% per capita since 2005, despite a population increase of 10 million, according to seafood industry publication Undercurrent News.

Britons now eat just 4.3 kg of seafood annually, with overall volumes down by 60 metric tons. This decline is occurring even as the category’s value has grown by £2 billion, reaching £3.6 billion annually.

Industry leaders at the Future Humber conference in London highlighted several challenges, including a generational replacement crisis: older consumers are buying less, while younger generations are growing up with limited exposure to seafood. It now takes three younger consumers to replace one older buyer in the category.

Read the original article at Undercurrent News (paywall).

Fremantle and Geraldton Blessing Wrap Up.

Thanks to everyone who joined the Geraldton and Fremantle Blessing of the Fleets this month — a fantastic day celebrating our fishing heritage. GFC was proud to sponsor the events and contribute to the programming.

A huge thanks to the volunteer organising committees that give up their time to put on these events for our fishers and communities.

Congratulations to our Winners for 2025

1st - Proudy1 (Justin Proudlove) - $1,550
2nd - Pastries (Matt Kalajzich) - $930
3rd - Jessdavo98 (Jeff Davidson) - $620

FINAL LEADERBOARD