“澳龙”遭遇中国进口禁令Chinese ban on imports leaves Australia awash with lobster

Tonnes of rock lobster are landing on the tables of Australia’s finest restaurants after China banned their import as part of a crackdown on trans-shipments through Hong Kong meant to avoid duties.

成吨的大龙虾正被端上澳大利亚高档餐厅的餐桌，原因是中国禁止进口这些大龙虾，以打击旨在逃避关税的经香港转运的行为。

China and Hong Kong account for close to 80 per cent, or A$400m ($396m), of Australia’s annual exports of rock lobster and the unexpected ban could not have come at a worse time.

在澳大利亚每年价值4亿澳元（合3.96亿美元）的大龙虾出口中，近80%流向中国内地和香港。中方出人意料的禁令时机再糟糕不过。

Australian fishermen are in the midst of the lobster season and the ban has provoked an industry outcry with complaints that Canberra has failed to secure preferential trade deals with China negotiated by rival nations such as New Zealand.

澳大利亚渔民正处在大龙虾捕获季节，中方的禁令造成业界一片哗然，人们抱怨称，堪培拉方面未像新西兰那样，与中国达成优惠贸易协定。

The Australian authorities want the matter to go away, and quickly, given that it shines a light on the long-standing practice that sees the bulk of Australian lobster supplies entering China via Hong Kong.

澳大利亚政府希望尽快解决此事，使其脱离人们的视线，部分原因是这件事使外界关注一种长期做法，即大量澳大利亚大龙虾经由香港进入中国内地。

But Patricia Fung, a director of Flower Drum, an upmarket Cantonese restaurant favoured by Melbourne’s establishment clique, is not complaining. “We sell lobster all year round but at the moment we can get it cheaper,” she said.

但是，墨尔本高层喜欢光顾的粤菜餐厅万寿宫(Flower Drum)的董事Patricia Fung对此没有怨言。“我们全年都在卖大龙虾，而现在我们能以更便宜的价格采购龙虾，”她表示。

Crayfish prices have dropped from A$120 a kilo in October to A$55, she says, and that means “market prices” charged by Flower Drum have fallen from A$240 a kilo to A$165.

她介绍说，龙虾价格已从10月份的每公斤120澳元跌至55澳元，这意味着万寿宫收取的“市场价格”已从每公斤240澳元跌至165澳元。

But Steve Vasiliki, owner of a family run seafood wholesaler on Melbourne’s outskirts, is less happy. He and rival wholesalers are trying to stockpile lobster in the hope that their biggest export market opens up again soon.

但在墨尔本郊外，家族运营的一家海鲜批发商的企业主史蒂夫•瓦西莉奇(Steve Vasiliki)却没有那么高兴。他和其他批发商都在试图储存大龙虾，以期最大的出口市场不久将再度开放。

“We are holding live lobster that we paid a premium for. My wholesale price has not changed and it won’t – otherwise I will go under,” said Mr Vasiliki.

“我们养殖着自己支付了溢价的活龙虾。我的批发价格没有变化，也不会变化——不然我会破产，”瓦西莉奇表示。

“Prices won’t drop any more because the fishermen have overheads and they can’t afford to go fishing at these prices.”

“价格不会再跌，因为渔民有自己的开销，这样的价格让他们负担不起捕捞作业。”

Steve Moriarty, owner of Southern Waters Marine Products, a South Australian seafood exporter, said that Australian producers had to pay a 35 per cent duty on top of the agreed lobster sale price when they exported straight to China. The Australian government needed to exert diplomatic pressure to protect the local industry, he said.

南澳大利亚海鲜出口商Southern Waters Marine Products的企业主史蒂夫•莫里亚蒂(Steve Moriarty)介绍说，澳大利亚生产商若直接向中国出口，就需要在商定的龙虾售价基础上支付35%的关税。他表示，澳大利亚政府需要施加外交压力，以保护本土产业。

“China has recognised value in Australian lobster more than anyone. They call it the spiny dragon and they will pay a lot for it,” he said. “I want things back to normal.”

“中国比其他任何国家都更意识到澳洲龙虾的价值。他们称之为澳龙，他们愿意支付高价，”他表示。“我希望局面恢复正常。”

If Australia hits an extended period of lobster oversupply, he warned, many in the industry will go out of business.

他警告称，如果澳大利亚遭遇长时间的龙虾过度供应，业内许多人将会破产。