The Easter long weekend is a beloved Australian tradition for enjoying fresh seafood, despite the strain of rising living costs. Families and friends gather to celebrate the holiday, with fishmongers and traders selling over 1,000 tonnes of seafood across the country’s popular markets. Shoppers line up early, even in wet weather, to indulge in the delicacies. While inflation has affected spending habits, some still prioritize this tradition, although traders recommend alternatives to combat rising seafood costs.
The Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics (ABARES) predicts an eight percent increase in the gross value of fisheries and aquaculture production to $3.63 billion in 2022-23. The rise is mostly driven by the aquaculture sector, with salmonids showing the largest growth. However, the survey reveals that nearly two-thirds of Australians are staying home over the Easter holiday due to the increased cost of living, with the main financial strains being food and grocery prices, petrol prices, energy bills, and interest rates.