Member Update

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

Update from Marc Anderson;

• Marc reflected on the announcement that live sales to China would resume in late 2024. He thanked the GFC team from sales, operations, and around the business for their efforts to make sales and prepare orders in response to China's live sales returning, particularly over the Christmas and New Year period.
• Marc shared with Members GFC's reinvigorated purpose and introduction of a vision and mission for our co-operative that your Board endorsed in December. The document, intended as a pathway into the future, balancing short and long-term ambitions, speaks to GFC's Purpose (Why), Vision (What) and Mission (How). Marc shared the final iteration of this with viewers online and spoke about the collaborative approach to get to this result, including input from the Board, staff and Members. Please see the below infographic for more.

Market Update from Bryan Keay;

• Bryan spoke about the actions that took place following the announcement that live lobsters would return to China with Members. Bryan acknowledged the efforts of the sales, finance, operations and freight forwarder teams to ramp up volumes to commercial volumes, thanking them all for stepping up to get Member's shipments on aeroplanes to market.
• Bryan discussed the forecasted beach price range (following a China re-opening) versus the actual prices that fishers are now experiencing. While broadly in line with expectations, Bryan discussed some surprises, such as the initial spread of prices between grades, stating that it's a reminder that buyers, the market, and producers are still adjusting to Western rock lobster returning to China.
• Bryan believes that the current WRL intake is above current market requirements. The December intake period was significant, with record landings compared to recent intake figures. Due to this, the season-to-date intake is tracking well against previous seasons. However, when looking ahead, intake is higher than it needs to be to achieve a balance between the remaining quota and fishing days for the remainder of the season.
• The Lunar New Year is on January 29th, and market demand is expected to begin to lift one to two weeks before this period.

The next Member online meeting is scheduled for February 7th. The meeting link will be emailed to Members before the meeting.

Direct to Public, Christmas Sales Wrap-Up.

Christmas is a peak demand period for seafood in Australia, with many families planning to enjoy lobster, prawns, and fish during the holidays.

Wacrays.com.au and Brolos Fresh are our direct-to-consumer channels. In the lead-up to Christmas, we also had a pop-up shop at Molfetta Quays in Fremantle. 

The team at Brolos Fresh has worked diligently with local suppliers to secure an extensive range of Midwest fish and seafood for the peak season. Approximately 90% of all local wet-line fish caught was prepared and sold through the Brolos Fresh store to consumers and local restaurants. 

Sales of lobster and prawns have remained strong, as many consumers prefer locally caught seafood over imported varieties. 

The WA Crays e-commerce site in Perth and the pop-up shop in Fremantle have proven to be popular with consumers, with order volumes increasing by around 20% compared to December 2023. In preparation for the peak season, we added an extensive range of Brolos lobsters, WA prawns, and scallops to our product list, allowing customers to secure the most sought-after seafood items in one convenient place for the holidays.

Check out some images below from Fremantle and Welshpool and an article on Brolos Fresh in the Geraldton Guardian above.

Lunar New Year Celebrations Around the World

Lunar New Year, also known as Chinese New Year or Spring Festival, is one of the most significant celebrations across various Asian cultures. In 2025, the Lunar New Year falls on January 29th, marking the beginning of the Year of the Snake. This festival is celebrated with a variety of traditions that emphasise family reunions, cultural rituals, and hopes for prosperity and good fortune in the coming year.

In China, families gather for a reunion dinner on New Year’s Eve, featuring an array of symbolic dishes. Lobster, often referred to as the “dragon of the sea,” is a popular choice due to its association with strength and good fortune. Lobster is typically served whole to symbolise unity and completeness. The festivities also include giving red envelopes filled with money to children, setting off firecrackers to ward off evil spirits, and decorating homes with red lanterns and couplets.

In Vietnam, the Lunar New Year is known as Tết. Similar to Chinese traditions, Vietnamese families prepare special foods, such as bánh chưng (savoury rice cakes) and display fruit trays with five different fruits to symbolise wealth and prosperity. Lobster is also enjoyed during Tết, representing the dragon in the dragon-phoenix pairing, which signifies a harmonious marriage. The celebrations often involve visiting temples and ancestral graves to pay respects and offer sacrifices. Red envelopes with money are also given to children and grandchildren.

In South Korea, the Lunar New Year is known as Seollal. While the main dish is Tteokguk (rice cake soup), lobster and seafood are also enjoyed for their symbolism and prosperity.

The Year of the Snake is seen as a time for wisdom and transformation, encouraging personal growth and introspection. Across all these cultures, the Lunar New Year is a time to cherish family bonds, uphold traditions, and look forward to a prosperous future.