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 summarised some of the key updates from last week's board meeting, which included the reappointment of Basil Lenzo and Kris Carlberg as Chair and Vice Chair for another 12 months. It was also the first board meeting for the new Member-Director, Leonie Noble. Leonie has extensive experience in boards and advocacy work, offering great insights and questions. Marc congratulated Basil, Kris, and Leonie on their appointments, stating that the skills and expertise of the rejuvenated Board will continue to ensure the highest levels of governance of your co-operative to the benefit of all members.
• Marc also updated the Board on GFC's ratified Human Slavery Statement. The statement is discussed in more detail in a separate article below.
• The Board also discussed the use and potential benefits of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to mine organisation data, create economies of scale, and reduce costs. This emerging topic will be explored further to realise potential benefits for your Co-operative.
• Marc shared with Members his recent attendance at Perth USAsia, a leading authority on strategic developments in the Indo-Pacific region. The breakfast discussed strategies businesses could consider to mitigate geopolitical tensions and the benefits of market diversification to insulate against geopolitical shocks.

Update from Leith Teakle; 

• Leith updated viewers on the Geraldton boatyard following an earlier announcement that operations would cease by mid-next year. GFC and the MidWest Ports Authority (MWPA) are currently in discussions to extend operations following a decision by your Board to approve operations to continue. While a suitable solution is still being sought, the footprint of future boatyard operations will likely be smaller, given the broader changes happening at the port. We will keep members updated on the outcome of these discussions. Hopefully, this news will comfort users of the Geraldton boatyard that these services will remain in place for an extended period.
• Lobster catch weights: DPIRD continues to back-calculate weights declared by fishers due to a management change that was not communicated to the industry at the beginning of the season. DPIRD has released a step-by-step guide (linked in an article below) for fishers and processors. GFC is currently working on a solution for a catch being delivered from the Abrolhos Islands via carrier boat. 
• An update to the fishers' catch dockets has now been introduced to show the weight of the catch declared to DPIRD correctly.
• Leith advised fishers that if they're close to exhausting their quota in a zone, they should contact DPIRD to prioritise their catch calculations. 
• Members' Christmas hams are being distributed this week. Please look out for the text messages sharing information on when and where to get your Christmas ham in your area.

Market Update from Bryan Keay;

• Bryan provided a summary of the December price predictions based on current supply, demand, and live lobster access in China. These predictions are in line with the lower end of the predicted price range based on a late-December re-opening.
• Live lobster demand has been low in recent weeks, and pricing of other key species, such as Mexican and New Zealand, is down to 2019 levels in key export markets. 
• Compounding downward price pressure is the higher-than-anticipated intake this month, with volumes exceeding 2023 levels. While slight movements in the Australian to US dollar fluctuations have helped insulate this mismatch between supply and demand, it is still weighing on beach prices.
• Bryan stated the industry is still waiting for a China re-opening of the live market to be communicated. However, the latest advice from Australian authorities is that it is still expected by the end of 2024. 

The next Member online meeting is scheduled for January 10th. The meeting link will be emailed to Members before the meeting.

GFC Expo Report

Our business development team recently participated in trade shows in Qingdao, Shanghai and Taipei.

The Qingdao Seafood Show and the China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai provided excellent opportunities to connect with buyers, introduce our range of retail products, and gain insights into the latest market trends and consumer preferences.

Brolos Lobster shared the spotlight with esteemed companies at the Australian Food and Wine Collaboration Group in Taipei, including Dairy Australia, Meat & Livestock Australia, Hort Innovation, Wine Australia and Seafood Industry Australia, which collectively showcased Australia’s finest sustainable and high-quality food and wine.

We want to extend our gratitude to the teams at the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade) and SIA for their assistance and for the opportunity to collaborate with top-quality producers to present Australia’s offerings. 

With the holidays around the corner, this concludes a diverse program of expo and trade participation for 2024, with the Trading team connecting with new and existing customers from over 20 countries.

Expos and trade attendance continue to be an effective way to maintain connections with buyers and market trends and introduce Brolos products for GFC. We look forward to sharing more updates in the new year about our 2025 program.

2024 GFC Annual General Meeting

Thank you to all our members who attended the Annual General Meeting last month.

Your attendance and participation were invaluable. AGMs are a cornerstone of our co-operative, ensuring democratic control and transparency. They provide a platform for members to voice their opinions, contribute to decision-making, and shape the future of our co-operative. 

A few images of the AGM from Molfetta Quays in Fremantle and Geraldton are shown above.

New casual recruits doing a site induction at Sultan Way, Fremantle

GFC Casual Summer Recruitment Update 

Every year, GFC's casual employee numbers increase to meet higher operational activity. Since 2020, our HR team has introduced new technology to streamline the online application and onboarding process for summer casuals, reducing turnaround time and costs.

This overhaul has led to many casuals returning each season. Two weeks ago, we welcomed about 100 new employees at Sultan Way and Welshpool, where our experienced Seafood Processors and Production Controllers provided valuable guidance. Thank you to our production teams for your support during this peak season.

Modern Slavery Statement 

The Modern Slavery statement is increasingly essential for organisations with international and convoluted supply chains to ensure vulnerable members of society are not taken advantage of.

Now legislated in Australia, these statements and the frameworks they establish are increasingly a "minimum entry requirement" for securing business with many leading food distributors and retailers.

Your Board has ratified GFC's first formal Modern Slavery Statement. While management and the Board are confident in the way GFCs and our partners' supply chains operate, the work done in preparing the statement and framework for oversight will be reviewed to ensure this remains the case. 

Fisheries Minister Approves 6800 TACC for 2025-26 Season

The WA Minister for Fisheries, Don Punch, recently accepted the WRLC's recommendation for a TACC level of 6,800 tonnes. 

"I am pleased to advise that I support in principle WRL’s recommendation for a TACC for the 2025-26 season of 6,800 tonnes. I have asked the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) to commence statutory consultation to amend the West Coast Rock Lobster Managed Fishery Management Plan 2012 accordingly." Hon. Don Punch MLA.

The 6,800 figure was put to the Minister following a Council Board meeting in November. The recommendation was based on:

• TACC Committee's recommendation
• Member survey responses
• Feedback from Annual Management Meetings
• General member and PFA feedback

Minister Approves TACC of 6800 Tonnes for 1 July 2025 - 30 June 2026

Rock Lobster Weighing Process

The Fisheries team has published a guide to clarify how the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) manages the Western Rock Lobster fisheries and the weight calculations of fishermen's deliveries. 

Read in more detail here.

2025 International Year of Co-operatives

The United Nations has declared 2025 as the International Year of Co-operatives, celebrating the theme “Co-operatives Build a Better World.” This initiative highlights the significant role co-operatives play in fostering sustainable, inclusive, and resilient economies. The year-long celebration aims to raise global awareness about the benefits of co-operatives and their contributions to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

Throughout 2025, co-operatives worldwide will engage in various events, campaigns, and promotional activities to showcase their impact on social and economic development. The International Co-operative Alliance will officially launch the year at its General Assembly in New Delhi, bringing together leaders and members from around the globe. This period marks a unique opportunity for co-operatives to demonstrate their value and potential in addressing global challenges.

United Nations declares 2025 the International Year of Co-operatives | Co-operatives UK