About Us

The Commercial Fishermen’s Co-Operative (formerly Newcastle District Fishermen’s Co-operative) was formed in 1945 to service the needs of the local commercial fishers by way of providing fuel, ice, gas, cold storage, mooring facilities, transport and the marketing of the daily catch of seafood either locally or in Sydney.

There are currently 130 shareholder members who work independently in their fishing businesses either in the estuaries or on their fish/prawn trawlers depending on their individual endorsements. The catches are consigned through one of the Co-operative’s seven receiving depots located over a 200km area between Tuggerah and Seal Rocks. These facilities are sited at Gorokan, Tacoma, Swansea, Newcastle, Nelson Bay, Tea Gardens and Bungwahl with the administration office being located in Newcastle.

The members are required to purchase shares in the Co-operative with the minimum number being set at 3,500 (value $7,000) and the maximum 12,500 (value $25,000). A dividend is usually declared each year and calculated on the amount of paid up capital as at 30 June. A rebate (bonus) may be paid from profits and is based on the value of product supplied to the Co-Operative during that period by members who are required to consign at least $10,000 worth of seafood per year to retain active membership under the rules. The policies of the Co-Operative are set by a board of eight directors who are elected by members to represent the different areas.