According to news from SeafoodNews on January 30, in the past two years, Australian lobsters worth hundreds of millions of dollars have been illegally shipped to the mainland of China, and business is booming during the Chinese New Year.

An Australian lobster farmer said that Chinese Taiwan is currently the gateway to the mainland of China.

Smugglers have become the biggest winners, while Australian lobster farmers and Chinese consumers have become the biggest losers, and their profits have been snatched away by various criminals and opportunists.

There are rumors in Australia, the mainland of China and Chinese Taiwan that Beijing may soon lift its ban on the trade, which was worth more than $750 million in 2019.

A visit last month by China's top diplomat to Western Australia, the world's largest exporter of Australian rock lobster, has raised hopes that Beijing will also lift a ban on seafood imports.

Beijing is expected to soon lift unofficial restrictions on Australian rock lobsters, according to analysts, signaling a revival of trade relations between the two countries.