Member Update

Geraldton Fishermen's Cooperative's online meetings allow Members to engage with their management team regularly. A summary of the most recent meeting is provided below.

Cooperative Update from Chair Basil Lenzo;

• Basil gave an update on the new CEO selection process. A sub-committee from the Board and a specialist recruitment agency will shortly be conducting interviews. A further update will be made to Members during the AGM;
• Basil encouraged all Members to attend GFC's upcoming Annual General Meeting. The AGM is an excellent opportunity for Members to learn about the latest developments of their cooperative and ask Management questions. Please see below for more details on GFC's annual meeting;
•  Basil shared some of the highlights from the recent Business Council of Cooperatives and Mutuals annual summit. The BCCM is our national peak body and advocates for Cooperatives and Mutuals in Canberra;
• Basil informed Members of some upcoming market development trips with international buyers. Please see the below article for more information.

Member Services Update from Leith Teakle;

• Annual Member Engagement Surveys were sent to Members recently. The surveys provide meaningful feedback to your Board and Executive team. The window to provide feedback has now closed, but GFC looks forward to sharing some of the results with Members when they're available. Survey participants who were lucky to win one of the five $100 prepaid debit cards will be contacted by the Member Services team shortly.

Market Update from Bryan Keay;

• Members were informed that intake is tracking approximately 3% ahead of the intake season-to-date when compared to the pre-COVID average;
• Bryan shared that market demand has been softer than anticipated due mainly to some logistical issues in key export markets;
• Bryan reported that October intake was at the highest level since 2020, with a higher proportion of smaller grades being caught;
• Bryan shared some graphics comparing the kilograms caught between November and June in the 2022 - 2023 season and kilograms expected to be caught in the current season with the higher quota amount;
• Bryan also spoke about the changing grade mix in October this year compared to previous seasons, with an increase in A size most noticeable.

The next Member online meeting is scheduled for Friday, the 24th of November, at 4 p.m. The meeting link will be sent to Members via email before the meeting.

The Australian Financial Review, 6th November 2023. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Trade Minister Don Farrell with GFC Chair Basil Lenzo inspect a Brolos frozen lobster In Shanghai.

Prime Minister's China Visit and Attendance at the China International Import Expo.

The Prime Minister and Trade Minister visited China from the 4th to the 7th of November. Amongst the high-level diplomatic meetings with President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang, the much-anticipated visit coincided with the China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai.

The Australian leaders took the opportunity to visit Australian producers exhibiting at the CIIE, including GFC. This opportunity was seized by your Chair, Basil Lenzo and GM Trade and Business Development, Bryan Keay, who introduced Brolos lobsters to the dignitaries amongst an international media throng and their cameras.

While no firm announcements regarding market access issues have been announced by either government (to date), the tone and reporting of the visit by both Australian and Chinese media was positive.

A joint statement after the visit included the below positive outcomes for Australian businesses and exporters;

•  the recommencement of the Annual Leaders' Meeting, Foreign and Strategic Dialogue, the Strategic Economic Dialogue, the Joint Ministerial Economic Commission, as well as other government-to-government mechanisms
• holding the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement Joint Commission meetings in Australia at an early date
• agreement to provide access to three to five-year multi-entry visas for visitors and business people on a reciprocal basis.

While a pathway to market remains unclear, this is the most positive development we've seen by senior officials as Australia and China continue to engage in dialogue and recalibrate their diplomatic relationship.

GFC will continue to share updates with Members on this topic and other issues through the online meetings.

Rock Lobster Holding, Landing and Weighing Requirements.

Recently, the Western Rock Lobster Council communicated to fishers and stakeholders, clarifying some requirements for holding, landing and weighing rock lobster.

Read the Council's E-mail here. 

Australia-European Union Free Trade Agreement Stalls.

Free Trade Agreements (FTA) typically take years of negotiation and countless revisions and amendments before being agreed. 

It has been widely reported that negotiations for the Australia-EU agreement have met difficulties in recent months. It now appears that progress on the Australia-EU FTA has stalled, with reports our representatives could not work through a solution at this time.

Don Farrell, Australia's Trade Minister, recently released a statement stating;

"...My job is to get the best deal that we can for our producers, our businesses, our workers, and our consumers. Negotiations will continue, and I am hopeful that one day we will sign a deal that benefits both Australia and our European friends."

GFC, like many agricultural industries, has a long track record of benefiting from free trade agreements. While this news will not pause any business development activities in Europe by our sales team, we hope negotiations will resume soon.

Read the complete statement here. 

Invitation to GFC Members to the 74th Annual General Meeting 

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. 

After the formal meeting, there will be a Management presentation on the latest Cooperative news and time for general questions and discussion. 

Thursday 16th of November 2023 from 2 pm to 5 pm

The Geraldton Apartment Hotel (The Fitzgerald Room), 25 Cathedral Ave, Geraldton

(Streaming to) GFC Board Room in Welshpool. 62 - 66 Banksia Road, Welshpool

Southern Members, please RSVP to Emma Windle on 9435 8964 or email. 

Northern Members, please RSVP to Alison Walker on 9965 9000 or email.

GFC Recruitment Opportunities

In the lead-up to the busy summer catching period, your co-operative recruits various positions between Fremantle and Geraldton. These include;

• transport drivers
• coastal depot positions
• seafood processing attendants
• administrative positions

For a full list of available opportunities, check out GFC's Jobs Board here.

If Members have any family or friends that are looking for new opportunities, please pass on the link to GFC's Job board.

Design Finalists and their families joined the launch of the sustainability-themed truck at the Geraldton Blessing of the Fleet.

GFC's Sustainability Truck Ready to Hit WA Highways.

Geraldton Fishermen's Co-operative (GFC), in collaboration with the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), launched a unique, eye-catching new lobster transport truck design during Geraldton's Blessing of the Fleet on Sunday, 29th October.

Nearly 400 creatively minded primary school students from around Western Australia answered the call to submit a design that celebrates 'WA rock lobster and the clean, blue ocean we love.'  

GFC selected three entry finalists to have their designs inspire the artwork affixed to one lobster truck used to transport Geraldton Fishermen's Co-operative lobster between Geraldton and Perth.  

The winning finalists are primary school students from communities where GFC operates and WA's iconic rock lobster is caught.

We want to congratulate our finalists; Amber 11 from Geraldton, Coden, 11 from Dongara, and Jordan, 8 years from Fremantle. Look out for GFC's sustainability truck on the highways if you're travelling between Fremantle and Geraldton - it's sure to stand out in traffic!

Geraldton Blessing of the Fleet makes a Successful Re-entry to Port. 

Missing from the calendar of community-orientated events in recent years, the Geraldton Blessing of the Fleet made a successful comeback on Sunday, 29th October.

The day's programming kicked off with the traditional blessing before expanding to a variety of family-friendly fun designed to bring the fishing industry and community closer together.

After the Blessing procession, the entertainment shifted focus from the harbour to the wharf with rope coiling and tug-of-war competitions, plus market stalls, food trucks and entertainment for the whole day.

Well done to Tiffany O'Byrne, Steve Weldon, Tracey Basilie, Father Robert and a team of volunteers and helpers for bringing back the Geraldton Blessing!

Check Out the Highlights Video from 7 Regional News on Facebook.