Trade 



The biilk of the Australian catch is sold locally, cooked with 

 heads on. Export data are not available. It is known, however, that 

 snail quantities of shrimp are sent to Mew Zealand, various Pacific 

 Islands as well as the United Kingdom and the United States. 



Many efforts have been made to market Australian prawns in the 

 United States — so far with little success. The principal difficulty 

 has been that prices on the Australian market have generally been as good 

 as in the United States except in periods of infrequent glut. In 19^6, 

 163,730 pounds of shrimp valued at $10^,396 were imported by the United 

 States. 



There has been a general lack of knowledge as to the best 



methods of preparing and packaging the product for the United States 

 market, although this situation is rapidly improving. If production 

 should increase so that Australian prices would drop materially, pro- 

 ducers would seek foreign markets more actively. 



Potential production 



Available evidence based on a recent survey suggests that the 

 seas off New South V/ales and Queensland may support catches up to five 

 times the present output. 



Additional facilities are required to exploit further the 

 shrimp fishery. Additions to the fishing fleet and installation of 

 packing and refrigeration facilities are among the prerequisites for 

 an expansion of the industry. Some grading and peeling machinery has 

 been recently introduced into Australia. There are no shrimp canneries 

 in the country. On the other hand, a number of fishermen's cooperatives 

 have facilities for freezing shrimp. The Queensland Fish Board also 

 maintains freezing facilities. 



The Australian fishing industry is composed principally of a 

 large number of owner-producer fishermen. In New South V/ales and South 

 Australia many of the fishermen are members of cooperative societies. 

 In Queensland, the Fish Board, a governmental agency, has virtual monopoly 

 over the marketing of fish and shrimp. In other states, marketing is in 

 private hands. Distribution of fresh fishery products is hampered by 

 inadequate refrigerating and transport facilities. 



Fishery officials believe that trawling in the Great Australian 

 Bight offers opportunity for qualified foreign investors. 



-Jl IKT.-DUP. SEC., WASH.. D.C. 3MMe5 



