IT has been a hard couple of years for local crayfishers, but they are optimistic that this season might bring them something better.

While the season runs from July to June, November 15 marks the start of the season proper – when either sex of crayfish can be taken from western Victorian waters.

This year there are likely to be eight boats fishing to fill their quota – which stands at 60 tonnes for fish landed in Portland – with two new boats.

They’ll likely be selling to restaurants in Melbourne and Sydney, given the Chinese ban on crayfish exports, though there is hope Vietnam could become another export destination.

Among the local fishers is Neil O’Connell, who was among the early starters, bringing in his first haul on Wednesday morning.

It was his first time crayfishing since March, when he finished catching his quota for 2020-21 – he focuses on the area between Lady Julia Percy Island and Cape Nelson.

“My plan is to get through (catching quota) pretty quickly,” he said.

“Hopefully they don’t stop buying if there’s a bit of a glut happening.”

Mr O’Connell said he was surprised at the demand for crayfish.

“Everything’s opening up, international travel’s happening and they might find a market in Singapore,” he said.

Portland Fish Market owner Alastair McDonald said the beach, or landed, price for crayfish at present was about $45-50/kg, and they retailed for about $70-80/kg.

“Which is still pretty good,” he said.

“Before COVID they were averaging $95/kg (landed) so it’s almost half what it was.”

That was given the Chinese ban – the impact of which could be seen by New Zealand crayfish fetching $195/kg, with that country still selling into China.

“Prices fluctuate on a daily basis and trying to find that happy medium for retailers is quite hard,” Mr McDonald said.

“We’re looking forward to a good season as usual, and things are a bit more positive.”

A market was being established in Vietnam – which is in its infancy,” Mr McDonald said.

“Hopefully that will take up some of the slack, but there’s a lot of crays.

“But with the lifting of the (coronavirus) restrictions in Sydney and Melbourne we’re anticipating the domestic market will pick up a fair bit of the catch, as well as the local market through (Portland Fish Market).”

Prior to this week’s opening about 10 tonnes had been caught through the winter – when female crays cannot be caught – leaving about 50 tonnes still to get through Portland.

“If we get a straight run I’m anticipating we’ll see the last crays by the end of April or early May,” Mr McDonald said.

“Catch rates have been pretty good in the past few years, there’s plenty out there thanks to the quota.”