It’s early on a cool autumn morning in Shorncliffe and there’s a flurry of activity happening on the back decks of fishing boats moored at Cabbage Tree Creek.
“It is an institution. It’s been happening for quite a while. We’ve got 8-10 fishing families down here, who work Moreton Bay and beyond. They come in and sell their fresh catch”.
Gemma Noonan and her husband trawl Moreton Bay for the very best in seafood — locally and sustainably sourced prawns being the prized catch.
“With us there’s no middle man. So, you know, you’re buying direct off the guys who literally catch it, pick it, get it sorted and cook it.”
As the sun rises higher in the sky, customers queue down the road, waiting for the stalls to open. Bob, a local, tells us he’s been coming here for years and for good reason too. “Well you can’t get much fresher than that, can you? Straight off the boat to the customer”.
But it’s not just the locally sourced prawns that customers are after. Chris Savvas, owner of the Fish Factory in Brisbane’s Morningside, knows a thing or two about our incredible seafood.
“We source all over Australia but obviously we try to help the local fishermen – out of Straddie, out of Bundaberg. Most of the fish comes in by road transport these days. Fishermen drop it off and sometimes we go and pick it up off the wharf”.
It’s people and businesses like this that we’re helping keep afloat when we buy from local retailers. So, this weekend, when you’re heading out to get your seafood fix, remember to support local.
Next time you’re craving prawns, check out the great Cabbage Tree Prawn trawlers below:
