China-Australia relations: import ban sees Australian lobster disappear from Beijing markets, restaurants
- Australian rock lobster has all but disappeared from markets and restaurants in Beijing since China imposed an import ban last month
- Vendors in the capital have started stocking lobster from other countries, while the price of live lobsters in Australia has plunged
In Beijing’s bustling Sanyuanli market, a few Australian rock lobsters swim in tanks as vendors make a last-ditch effort to sell the crustaceans that are fast disappearing from Chinese menus.
“We are selling our remaining stock and if you don’t buy them now, you won’t get your hands on them any time soon,” said one stallholder, adding he also had frozen lobsters but the live ones were most prized, especially for celebratory banquets.
Another trader at the market, which is renowned for its imported seafood, said she was getting mixed signals about the supply of live Australian rock lobsters from her local importer.
“It’s not clear if we are able to get them in the coming weeks … there is no guarantee,” she said.
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Amid the uncertainty, vendors at Sanyuanli market have moved on to stock lobsters from Boston as an alternative to the Australian variety, which have been staple at wedding banquets and parties over the past 10 years.
“Some customers are disappointed,” said one Sanyuanli seafood store owner, adding Australian rock lobster, often steamed and presented on a big plate, is considered a luxury dish. “Here in Beijing they like to serve Australian lobsters when inviting guests for dinner. They are large, you see, they look nice on a dinner table.”
Australian lobsters are not the only casualty in the two countries’ escalating row. Australian coal, copper, sugar, logs, barley and wine were also blocked, although the Chinese government never formally announced the bans.