There's a shortage of fish in Perth right now — and ex-Tropical Cyclone Ellie is to blame

There's a shortage of fish in Perth right now — and ex-Tropical Cyclone Ellie is to blame

By Stephanie Sinclair, Michelle Stanley, and Hannah Barry

Source: ABC Kimberley

1/18/2023

Stephanie Sinclair, Michelle Stanley, and Hannah Barry

Credit: ABC Landline: Pip Courtney

Perth is in the midst of a fish shortage, with ex-Tropical Cyclone Ellie interrupting supplies from Western Australia's north.
Fishing boats operating off the Kimberley coast were hampered by poor weather conditions for almost two weeks as the damaging low pressure system lingered over the region.

When boats eventually returned to sea, operators were unable to drop their catches in Broome, where volumes are typically sent by road to Perth.

"The highway was cut off just south of Broome," Western Australian Fishing Industry Council chief executive Darryl Hockey said.

"What that meant, as a knock-on, was that the boats then travelled around to Darwin to unload and that therefore those fish will not be coming into the West Australian market.

"It's a reminder of how precarious supply chains are."