Fisheries Minister takes on Origin legend in Queen Street Mall

Published Tuesday, 09 April, 2019 at 10:00 AM

Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries
The Honourable Mark Furner

Fisheries Minister Mark Furner has stared down Queensland State Of Origin legend Sam Thaiday in a prawn peeling competition to promote Queensland seafood.

Mr Furner and the former Broncos hard-hitter launched the ‘Ask for Queensland seafood’ campaign in the Queen Street Mall to encourage Queenslanders to support their fishing industry and buy local produce.

“My aim is to get every Queenslander to ask for Queensland seafood when they head to their seafood shop this Easter,” Mr Furner said.

“Buying local produce benefits everyone, it’s fresh and delicious, local businesses profit and create more jobs, and professional fishers can continue to support their families.

“Our local seafood industry is vibrant and strong, injecting over $200 million dollars into the state’s economy from primary production alone and directly employing more than 1,500 people each year.”

Marshall Betzel, from the Queensland Seafood Marketers Association, said the industry was working around the clock to make sure shops were stocked full of Queensland seafood this Easter.

“Everyone in the industry from commercial fishers through to retailers are working day and night to catch, collect and stock the best seafood Queensland has to offer,” Mr Betzel said.

The Queensland Government has been working with the Queensland Seafood Industry Association, the Moreton Bay Seafood Industry Association, Queensland Seafood Marketers Association, Love Australian Prawns and local seafood businesses to deliver the campaign.

Mr Furner said buying Queensland seafood was a great way to support Queensland jobs.

“Our commercial fishers and aquaculture producers have a reputation for the best seafood in the world and they were really hard to keep it that way,” Mr Furner said.

“That’s why we recently launched our #eatqld campaign asking Queenslanders to buy great-tasting Queensland produce. It supporters our fishers and farmers, and creates jobs right across the state.”

ENDS

Media contact:

Ron Goodman 0427 781 920 ron.goodman@ministerial.qld.gov.au