Easter Seafood Prices Soar in Western Australia

0:00From Adelaide, this is your March 15 update. Western Australia seafood lovers are bracing for sticker shock this Easter, with most fresh fish prices up 10 to 40 percent from last year. Some premium species have spiked as high as 240 percent in just 5 months, thanks to the state government's ban on domestic fishing. The restriction started January 1st, closing commercial operations along an 800 km west coast stretch from Augusta to Calbari. Catch limits drop 50 percent in other areas, and trawl fishing ended in the Pilbara, forcing wholesalers to hike prices 15 to 20 percent on average. Retailers say customers are balking at the new cost for favorites like red emberer and pink snapper, with some calling fresh fish a luxury now. Major supermarkets have pulled species such as gold band snapper and ranking cod from shells due to shortages. Meanwhile, businesses are importing more from the Pilbara, Northern Territory, South Australia, and New Zealand. This ramps up expenses from fuel surges and recent floods, straining supply chains and food

1:04security in the isolated state. Officials defend the changes as key to rebuilding over fish stocks, noting they're protecting 290,000 kilograms of vulnerable. Fish annually. While millions of tons still get caught off shore, merchants push for other ways to balance sustainability without such a hit to local prices. D&N is brought to you by our sponsor. Soley Pillow is a pillow with built-in headphones, lay back, press play, and disappear into what you are listening to. S-O-L-I. SoleyPillow.com