Christmas prawns could be more expensive as wild-caught Australian seafood stocks drop off

For many, Aussie Christmas and fresh seafood go hand-in-hand like Santa and his sleigh.

But this year, retailers are warning fans of the prawn-laden lunch that wild-caught stocks are low, and prices are up.

Andrew Tobin has been working in the wild-caught fisheries off Queensland's east coast and the Gulf of Carpentaria for more than 20 years.

He says prawn catches have been poor, which could drive up prices this Christmas.

"People will be looking at probably an extra 10 or 15 per cent on what they were paying last year," Mr Tobin said.

It comes as New South Wales fisheries are also reporting lower catches than usual.

Stocks are low on tiger, endeavour and red spot king prawns, Mr Tobin said, but he does not want to encourage panic buying or prawn hoarding.

"There's still prawn available, no doubt about that," he said.

'Stay flexible' says fish market

The Sydney Fish Market expect to sell more than 350 tonnes of seafood this Christmas, including 120 tonnes of prawns.

Chief commercial officer Adam Mourad said prawn farms help to ensure ample supply is available for consumers, even if fishing conditions are not ideal.

"Consumers can be confident that they will have plenty of seafood on their Christmas tables," Mr Mourad said.

"The main product under pressure this year is king prawns, due to tighter supply from NSW and Queensland fisheries, though they are still around, and the quality is excellent.

"Our message is to stay flexible and open to exploring the full variety of Australian seafood."

Lower stock, great quality

Andrew and Renae Tobin spend a large portion of their year selling wild-caught Aussie seafood across the outback.

They said it was not just prawns which were evasive this season, as Spanish mackerel avoided the boats too.

"The Spanish mackerel season started really well in the Gulf but petered out at the end," Mr Tobin said.

Fans of mud crabs will be happy to know Mr Tobin said stocks are stable, and those planning to feature barramundi on the Christmas table should have good luck finding top quality wild-caught product in stores.

"Fishermen have got better and better at adopting technologies and better practices," he said.

"So, the consumer at the end of the day gets a very good product."

Seafood slips through cost-of-living cracks

Less optimistic was Queensland Seafood Industry Association president Allan Bobbermen, who said some boats "didn't even go to work this year".

"I don't think it was economically viable because the fish stocks, the prawn stocks weren't there," Mr Bobberman said.

"Some of the feedback I've been getting from wholesalers and retailers, is they're struggling to get product for the Christmas period," he said.

Mr Bobberman said consumers will have to weigh up the quality of wild-caught Aussie seafood, versus the price of imported alternatives, which currently make up 62 per cent of the seafood Australians consume.

Also concerned is Austral Fisheries Northern Prawn Fleet manager Bryan Van Wyk.

"Cost of living makes it difficult for everyday Australians to be able to afford seafood," Mr Van Wyk said.

"But we really want consumers to pick Australian leading up to Christmas for quality sustainability and to help keep this industry alive."

Aussie seafood industry 'in survival mode'

Bryan Van Wyk said this his prawn fleet caught 20 to 30 per cent less than the year prior.

"The catch wasn't there in commercial quantities, so we made that decision early to come home," he said.

Weather and colder sea temperatures, down about 2 to 3 degrees Celsius, might have been the culprit for a lack of prawns, Mr Van Wyk said.

Although prices for consumers could increase this year, Mr Van Wyk said the increase at the supermarket does not cover the losses for fishers.

"We're very much in survival mode, cutting back costs doing everything we can, hoping that Mother Nature can turn things around," he said.