Western Australians will get a chance to celebrate Christmas and New Year, with a new program to provide more the State’s most iconic seafood – the western rock lobster.
“The Local Lobster Program provides a chance for more Western Australians and tourists to enjoy this popular seafood. This festive season why not take up the opportunity to tuck into our delicious and iconic western rock lobster, fresh from the boat or served up in one of our great local restaurants” Western Australian Fisheries Minister Dave Kelly commented.
Minister Kelly explained that the Local Lobster Program, which began last year and is a national-first, is designed to put more local lobsters in WA restaurants and on plates. Local Lobster Program tags will be distributed to appropriately licensed commercial fishers by Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development offices at Mandurah, Fremantle, Hillarys, Lancelin, Jurien Bay and Geraldton. Some commercial fishers will sell their tagged catch direct to the public and others will find their way to plates through local restaurants and fish retailers.
“This is a great initiative for Western Australians and I congratulate the commercial fishers and Western Rock Lobster Council for getting involved. This program allows commercial western rock lobster fishers to each catch and tag up to 50 extra lobsters for sale, direct to the local market. The objective of the Local Lobster Program is to increase the supply of lobsters to WA communities and businesses.” Minister Kelly commented.