AN upgrade to the Sydney Fish Market could net a bigger price for the Great Lakes fishing industry, which makes up about 5 per cent of the Market’s catch.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The revamp includes a new purpose-built wholesale market with state of the art refrigeration and storage facilities, improved freight access, new wharves for the fishing fleet and commercial parking.
Sydney Fish Market general manager Bryan Skepper said he expected the revamp to double the 2.7 million market visitors a year.
“The Wallis Lake region supplies some 600 tonnes of seafood including bonito, blue swimmer crab and yellowfin bream, annually to Sydney Fish Market, and is one of our valued supply regions,” Mr Skepper said.
He said of the 600 tonnes, the Wallis Lake Fishermen’s Co-op provided 423 tonnes of seafood a year.
Mr Skepper said he expected the Australian fishing industry would meet the demand of the visitor increase.
Wallis Lake Fishermen’s Co-op operations manager Suzie McEnallay said although their 50 shareholders probably could not increase their catch, they hoped the inflow of customers would push up prices for some of their more desired species like blue swimmer crab.
“All the co-op members are very excited about the upgrade,” Ms McEnallay said.
“Fishing is such an integral part of this town.
“We have been a $7 million company over the past few years.”
Mr Skepper said the NSW Government endorsed the market’s vision as a key priority and the project is expected to proceed to Expressions of Interest in early 2016 as part of the Bays Precinct Urban Transformation Program.
“The market is owned by the NSW seafood industry and we’re determined to ensure that the site remains an iconic showcase for the industry and its products,” Mr Skepper said.
“It is very exciting to be able to report progress to the local industry because this is so important to everyone’s future.”
He said the Market sold 50 per cent of NSW’s catch.
