Business
5 November, 2024
Where fresh is always best
SALIHA Rooney is the owner of Gulf Line Fisheries based at Karumba, a small privately-owned business which specialises in selling premium line-caught fish from the pristine waters of the Gulf of Carpentaria.
“My passion is to supply a sustainable line caught product that is handled with the utmost care and respect for the animal and the environment,” she said.
“My love for the ocean and fishing started as a small girl fishing with my father in Western Australia and I have never lost my enthusiasm.
“I moved to Cairns almost two decades ago and adapted my skills to charter fishing on the Great Barrier Reef and Gulf of Carpentaria.
“During long days as a decky waiting for the explosive marlin bite I would entertain clients, showing them how to rig lures and educating and promoting viable fishing practices.
“The methods of fishing I use targets specific fish species and by using lures, rather than bait, there is the additional benefit of minimising the impact on other species.
“I skipper my own boats on every trip, which is a one, sometimes two-boat operation, that fishes out of Karumba.
“Typically, the fishing trips are between one and two days before returning to port.
“Once back in port, the product is transferred quickly and easily to Cairns and other markets.
“The operation focuses on quality not quantity. Less fish are caught, but each fish is dispatched immediately and humanely, bled and placed on ice within minutes.
“This careful process ensures the fish is of premium quality. Once processed the fish is individually packaged and snap frozen, retaining its freshness.
“I also supply fresh whole fish on ice to the market when required. My method of fishing is using rods casting lures and catching each fish individually.
“My vision is, and always will be, to promote sustainable, economically viable fishing methods that the environment can sustain.”
Of particular interest is Ms Rooney’s line-caught barramundi and king threadfin salmon. Other species available for sale include, but not limited to, fingermark, Spanish mackerel, gold spot cod, other reef fin species and Gulf-caught raw prawns.
Gulf Line Fisheries is at 297 Mulgrave Rd, Bungalow (inside Battery World).
