Austral Fisheries acquires Moreton Bay Seafoods

Western Australia-based seafood business Austral Fisheries has announced the acquisition of Brisbane-based Moreton Bay Seafoods, established in 1976.

“We are delighted to be able to add the skills, experience, and capability of the Moreton Bay Seafoods business to our established strength as a producer,” commented Austral Fisheries CEO David Carter.

Austral Fisheries comprises operations ranging from Patagonian toothfish in the Southern Ocean, to prawns and tropical snapper species in the Northern Prawn and Timor Reef Fisheries.

“The investment recognises the strategic importance that provenance branded seafood has to our future. Having a dedicated capacity for processing seafood allows us to better meet consumer needs and ensure greater control over quality and consistency,” David Carter said.

“We have seen growing demand from consumers not just for Aussie-caught seafood, but for Aussie-processed seafood as well. Austral’s retail range of Karumba Banana Prawn and Skull Island Tiger Prawn brands can now be expanded to get more of our high quality, Aussie brands to more people,” added Austral Fisheries’ Dylan Skinns, General Manager of Sales and Marketing.

Austral said the combined catch would increase the facility’s overall processing volumes, providing opportunities for permanent employment and enhanced job stability for the facility’s 30-strong workforce. The move will also enable Austral Fisheries to expand trading with East Coast suppliers and improve Austral’s ability to facilitate import and export of a wider range of products due to the location of the facility.