Kestrel seafoods

07/10/2026

School holiday family time looks a little different when your office floats. 🦐⚓

​"Child labour" jokes aside, when maintenance needs doing, it doesn't matter if the weather is miserable or the kids are on school break—the work on the boat never stops. If you want to spend quality time with Dad this week, you grab some rags, head down to the wharf, and get stuck in.
​Growing up around commercial fishing means learning early that boats don't look after themselves!
​Who else has their "deck cadets" earning their keep these holidays? 👇

05/10/2026

19/09/2026

1990 vs Today: How wild prawns beat inflation while fishermen absorb the bill.

​This clipping from July 19, 1990, reported local fishermen struggling because consumers hesitated at $16 to $18/kg for king prawns.
​Thirty-six years later, look at what everything else has done:

​Commercial Diesel: 60c/L ➡️ $3.00/L (up 400%)

​Rump Steak: ~$7.50/kg ➡️ $26.00+/kg (up ~250%)

​Milk: 80c/L ➡️ $2.00+/L (up ~150%)

​Prawns: $18/kg ➡️ $30/kg off the deck (or $40–$45/kg in the shops)

​Almost every everyday staple has tripled or quadrupled. Meanwhile, the price of fresh, wild-caught prawns has grown at a fraction of that rate—even while the diesel required to catch them costs five times what it did in 1990.
​Whether you're paying $40–$45/kg at a seafood shop or $30/kg at the boat, prawns are one of the few premium foods that have not kept pace with the runaway cost of living.

16/09/2026

The Economics of Sustainably Sourced Seafood

• A quick story about perspective.

• The other night, someone at our table ordered a plate of grilled chili butter prawns at a local restaurant.
• Delicious? Absolutely.
• But sitting there, we did the sums: by the time those prawns hit the plate, they had been marked up over 400% from what we sell them for off the deck.
• We don't begrudge the restaurant one bit.
• Hospitality is brutal right now, rents are high, and everyone is trying to make a living.
• What made us pause was hearing from a customer recently that our own prawns have gotten "too expensive."

Operational Costs and Business Realities
• It’s easy to look at a price tag on a kilo of fresh seafood and forget what it takes to get it there:

Diesel is the single biggest killer for a boat; you burn fuel whether the catch is heavy or light.

• Then there are the bills that never stop: ice, cold storage power, and fishing fees that jump every year.

• Insurance and sudden hits also add up; just having our first workers’ comp claim in 15 years cost our business an extra $18,000 overnight.

• We aren't increasing our prices to build an empire; we’re adjusting them so our trawlers can keep operating tomorrow.

• To everyone who turns up at the wharf and backs local crews—thank you.
• Your support is the only reason our nets stay wet.

07/09/2026

The next generation of fishermen on this fine morning
Austin doesn’t look impressed 🤣🤣

13/08/2026

Still after a reliable skipper to take over Gunsynd. We would love to have Gwendolyn up and running by Christmas, but apparently Daniel can't do two things at once.😆

09/08/2026

For all those who asked:
Yes we do fresh 🦐🦐

Please note prawns were not left in the sun, our 9yr old daughter was tasked with taking photos while we unloaded.

07/08/2026

JOB OPPORTUNITY: COMMERCIAL FISHING SKIPPER ⚓

​Due to high demand for our product, Kestrel Seafoods is looking for an experienced, hard-working Skipper to join our team, working out of Yamba, NSW.

​We operate a professional, high-standard operation focused on delivering top-notch, premium seafood. To maintain that level of quality, we need someone who takes genuine pride in their work and isn't afraid to put in the hard yards.

​What We Expect:
​Clean & Sober: Strictly sober habits on board. We run a clean, safe, and professional ship—no exceptions.
​Work Ethic: Strong commitment to quality, product care, and high standards.
​Experience: Proven leadership, safety, and seamanship on the water.

​What We Offer:
​Top Pay: Excellent earning potential rewarding top-tier work ethic.
​Great Working Conditions: clean operating environment, and direct support.
​Flexible Arrangements: Open to negotiating terms for the right candidate.

​If you are a reliable, sober professional who takes pride in producing the best product on the market, we want to hear from you.

03/08/2026

Myth: Fresh is always better than frozen.

​There’s a lot of bad rap out there about frozen prawns—especially cooked ones. But here’s the reality: a top-quality frozen prawn can easily match standard "fresh" prawns, and it all starts with the catch itself.

​At Kestrel Seafoods, we don't pack just anything. Only the firmest, premium-grade prawns make the cut into our boxes. We won't give away all our operational secrets, but every single prawn is processed, packed, and flash-frozen right out at sea within hours of being caught. That locks in the ocean-fresh snap, natural sweetness, and firm texture before it ever touches land.
​Just look at this unload coming off the boat today! 📸👇
​Every single box here is bound for the exact same buyer, and they’ve already told us this entire load will be completely gone by this afternoon.
​When you start with the best and freeze it right at the source, quality speaks for itself.

14/07/2026

Commercial Vessels For Sale – Yamba, NSW ⚓Or skipper wanted

​Due to operational restructuring, we are putting two well-known local vessels on the market. Genuine inquiries only.

​FV Kestrel 3
​Price: $75,000 (Sold without licence)
​Condition: Turn-key, and ready to go straight to work.

​FV Gunsynd II
​Price: $590,000 (Sold complete WITH licence)
​

​⚓ Skipper Wanted – FV Gunsynd II ⚓
​We are also seeking a committed, hardworking Skipper to join the team and take the sticks of Gunsynd II.

​Location: Operating out of Yamba, NSW.

​The Gig: Working a busy program with a full order book and a reputation for top-tier quality.

​Terms: Open to negotiating flexible working arrangements and terms for the right professional.

​Contact: DM for vessel specifications, inspection times, or to apply for the skipper position.