Daily Archives: January 28, 2025
China-Australia Relations: Beijing resumes imports of Australian lobster after 4-year ban
Australian lobsters are heading to China once again, after a 4-year absence. The industry says the removal of a trade ban by China late last year has opened the door to its biggest and most profitable export destination, just in time for the Chinese New Year. The haul on this day was a good one for Basil Lenzo and his crew. About 400 kilos of western rock lobsters. What’s even more significant for the 3rd generation fisher is that much of this catch will end up in China. In 2019, about 95% of Australia’s western rock lobsters were sent to China, which was the industry’s most profitable export market worth more than $700 million. The next year, China imposed tariffs and trade blockages on a number of Australian exports including lobsters. Video, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 19:30
Indigenous fishers, co-operatives are winners in Ottawa’s shuffle of baby eel quotas
Ottawa has issued the latest version of how it is proposing to distribute licences for the lucrative baby eel fishery in the Maritimes. In a letter to stakeholders on Monday, the Fisheries Department says it is maintaining its plan to shift half the quota of close to 10,000 kilograms of elvers away from nine large licence holders to new entrants from Indigenous communities. However, Ottawa confirms it is backing away from a pilot project to redistribute 27 per cent of the catch of the nine licence holders to 120 fishers who used to work for them. That old pilot proposal, introduced in December, drew strong criticism from the potential recipients, who said they preferred to remain employees and felt safer on the rivers under the existing arrangement. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 15:33
EU, Britain to face off in post-Brexit fishing battle case
A tiny silver fish which is an important food source in the North Sea will take centre stage Tuesday as the European Union and Britain square off over post-Brexit fishing rights. The bitter arbitration case over sandeels is seen as a bellwether for other potential litigation between London and Brussels in a perennial hot-bed industry, experts said. Tuesday’s clash at the Hague-based Permanent Court for Arbitration also marks the first courtroom trade battle between the 27-member trading bloc and Britain since it left the EU in 2020. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 06:08