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.

Update from Leith Teakle;

• Leith gave an update on the Blue Mackerel bait usage. Based on current usage, GFC will cease offering Blue Mackerel bait in the coming weeks. 
• Leith updated us on some recently completed business audits. The first is the Known Consignor Program, an Australian Border Force accreditation that allows businesses to prepare air cargo for export at their premises. The Known Consignor Program delivers significant cost and quality benefits to GFC's Members, so it is pleasing that we've maintained our accreditation. 
• With an increase in frozen production and significant upgrades to the Sultan Way facility, it is essential that GFC also enhances our food handling processes and training. Safe Quality Food (SQF) Program is a global food safety initiative recognised for food safety certifications covering all stages of the food chain. Leith reported that our initial audit last week went well; final results are expected shortly. The SQF accreditation will open new market opportunities and ensure GFC is using best practices; we will update Members once the final audit results are known.
• Leith shared with Members that GFC attended and had input into the recent TACC subcommittee meeting. Please see the article below regarding the Committee recommendations.
• Leith shared with viewers the Member Barbecues planned in March and encouraged all Members to attend. Please see the article below.

Market Update from Bryan Keay;

• Bryan shared with Members that 55% of the quota for the season has been caught, approximately 2% ahead of pre-COVID averages.
• Live market demand has remained strong in recent weeks, although this is expected to subside post-Lunar New Year period.
• Bryan advised Members that at current intake rates, beach prices would likely gravitate to frozen parity following the Lunar holiday in key export markets.
• Live sales as a percentage of intake have been relatively high in recent weeks, but with expected lower demand, live sales as a percentage of intake may begin to drop.

The next Member online meeting is scheduled for the 1st of March 2024. The meeting link will be sent to Members via email before the meeting.

Join Us for Member Barbecues, this March.

Next month, our new CEO, Marc Anderson joins GFC and we will host a series of coastal BBQs so Members can meet Marc and catch up with fellow Members and GFC staff. All Members and partners are encouraged to attend.

Please see the dates below for the closest function to you. As usual, we will update you with times closer to the date.

GFC Trade and Business Development Update.

Last month, some team members from your Business Development team travelled to Europe to present Brolos lobster products to a group of food and beverage procurement managers. 

The product immersion event was an opportunity to explain in detail the appealing aspects of Brolos Western Rock Lobster and our unique cooperative structure.

2024 is shaping up to be a busy year for trade and business development, with a number of expos and product development opportunities being planned. We will share images and more information on these trips in later editions of The Catcher.

Total Allowable Commercial Catch Recommendations for the Western Rock Lobster Fishery. 

The Western Rock Lobster Council emailed members last Friday summarising the Total Allowable Commercial Catch (TACC) recommendations that the TACC committee will submit to the Council's Board later this month.

Based on the inputs, the TACC Committee recommends maintaining the current TACC of 7300 tonnes for the next season, from 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025.

Given the data available to inform the TACC setting, GFC supports the TACC Committee's recommendation and believes maintaining quota is best for Members and the Western rock lobster fishery.

Commercial fishers are encouraged to complete an online survey to express their support or otherwise for this TACC recommendation. The survey can be found here and is open until noon, Friday, 16 February.

Read more here.

Western Rock Lobster Council Release Offshore Wind Farm Position Paper

The Western Rock Lobster Council recently released their position paper on Offshore Renewable Energy. 

The paper outlines the Council's concerns specific to the Western rock lobster fishery, specifically lobster biomass health and fisher resource access.

You can read the full paper here.