Prawns and oysters ready for the barbie

FRESH fish, oysters and literally tonnes of prawns are swimming out the door of the Newcastle Commercial Fishermen’s Co-op.

Dozens of people are expected to be waiting on the doorstep at Wickham when the co-op opens at 5am this morning, in preparation for the Hunter’s annual Christmas seafood binge.

Co-op manager Darren Platford said during a ‘‘quiet’’ period yesterday, when customers were still queued up three-deep at the counter, that sales were up on last year.

‘‘We’ll probably go through seven tonnes of prawns for the week,’’ Mr Platford said.

Christmas Eve is the co-op’s biggest day of the year.

Three tonnes of prawns will be sold today alone, and there are additional staff to help cope with the massive crowds. But seafood-lovers should get in early – plans are to shut the doors at 1pm today.

Prawns were ever-popular, and other top sellers include oysters, crabs, lobsters, salmon and whole snapper.