OPERATIONS
The Geraldton Fishermen’s Co-operative’s dedication to freshness and quality is apparent in the way all day to day operations are performed.
The Co-op services approximately 150 vessels every day during the season. Those fishermen catching in waters nearby Geraldton deliver their daily lobster catch directly to the Co-op “Live Holding Facility”. Fishermen, fishing from remote communities located along the coastline of Western Australia, deliver their daily catch to ”Brolos” trucks. These refrigerated trucks are equipped with specially designed re-circulating sea-water spray systems, that ensure the lobsters stay close to their natural environment during their journey back to the “Live Lobster Holding Facility” in Geraldton.
Those lobsters caught in the waters of the Abrolhos Islands are transported back to Geraldton on lobster carrier boats, again ensuring the lobsters stay in their natural environment until arriving back in Geraldton.
 Once the lobsters reach Geraldton those which are to be held for “Live” export are stored at the Co-op’s “Live Lobster Holding Facility”. These state of the art tanks have a capacity to hold 90 tonne of Live Lobsters. These facilities are efficiently managed enabling the Co-op to offer its customers a continued supply of “Brolos” brand Western Rock Lobsters throughout the season.
Live Lobster shipments are carefully packed in polystyrene cartons. Kiln dried pine shavings are placed between the lobsters and special packing techniques are undertaken to ensure that the lobsters maintain a suitable temperature during their transportation. These packing techniques ensure that “Brolos” brand lobsters reach their destination with a survival rate of better than 98%.
 Those lobsters which are to be processed for Frozen Whole Boiled, Frozen Whole Raw, Frozen Lobster Tails or Fresh Cooked (Chilled) are taken to the Co-op’s processing factory and gently placed in an ice slurry. Frozen Whole Raw lobsters are then wrapped, packed in export cartons and blast frozen in state of the art snap freezers. Frozen Whole Boiled lobsters are cooked to perfection in temperature controlled cookers, packed in to cartons and then blast frozen. Fresh Cooked (Chilled) lobsters are also cooked then precisely chilled, ensuring that the lobsters are fresh upon arrival at their destination.
The Co-op is progressive and innovative in its quest for high product standards and consequently places a great importance on Research and Development. The ability and dedication of the Co-op to remain at the forefront of industry developments ensures customers that “Brolos” brand lobsters are always the highest quality.
|
