08/10/2026
Sometimes travelling makes you appreciate what we have at home.
While travelling interstate over the past week, I’ve naturally found myself checking out seafood wherever I go, on menus, in seafood shops and, most recently, at a seafood co-op.
And one thing that caught my attention was the price.
At the co-op, Saddletail Snapper was $70.90/kg, Goldband Snapper $82.50/kg and Spanish Mackerel $52.90/kg.
They are all species we're very familiar with in the Territory, so naturally it had me thinking about what we see in our own local seafood retail outlets.
It's great to see quality NT-caught seafood available locally at what can be very reasonable retail prices.
That's not about seafood needing to be cheap. There is a lot behind every kilogram of fish that reaches the counter, the fisher and crew, vessel and fuel costs, processing, transport, refrigeration and the businesses that ultimately put that seafood in front of the consumer.
Our fishers deserve a fair return for the quality seafood they produce, while consumers also want good value when they're choosing what to put on the table.
Of course, seafood prices vary depending on species, season, supply and whether you're buying whole fish, fillets or another cut, so it's not always a straight dollar-for-dollar comparison.
But seeing these prices while travelling has certainly given me a renewed appreciation for what we have available at home.
Quality seafood harvested from our own waters, available through local businesses and, in many cases, at a pretty reasonable price. That's something worth appreciating. 🐟
Next time you're at your local seafood retailer, have a look at what's NT caught, you might be pleasantly surprised.
