Electric boat tour of Lincoln Cove Marina: Ron Kandelaars in the West Coast/Eyre Peninsula region of South Australia
Port Lincoln is one of the gems of picturesque Eyre Peninsula. But to really understand what makes the place tick and what makes it one of the wealthiest regional centres in the country, you need to get out on the water. The tuna pens off shore are full of a swirling mass of Southern Blue Fin Tuna - worth up to five thousand dollars each.
But if you haven't got time to visit the tuna pens, you can still sample Port Lincoln's life in the fast lane from the comfort of Graham Daniels' battery powered boat "Tesla". She's a seven-metre fantail launch - a bit like a Venetian gondola without the pole... and she'll very quietly take you into the rather loud and brash world of Lincoln Cove Marina.
It's very much 'the lives of the rich and famous' and Graham points out the numerous million dollar mansions. He took us past one that has aquarium inside that's one and a half times the length of our boat and needs a diver to clean it.
It's little anecdotes like that that makes Graham's tour so fascinating. Like the little footbridge that opens via remote control to let the yachts through.
We continue motoring along the waterway which used to be a swamp, past rows of prawn trawlers. When you buy your prawns at Christmas it's likely they have been caught on one of these. There are 39 of them in all, worth about 70 million dollars in total. They fish for fifty-five days a year from Whyalla in Spencer Gulf to Corny Point on Yorke Peninsula.
Other boats are out catching squid at night with 2000-watt lights that turn night into day. Graham reckons the deckies wear sunglasses, hats and sunscreen.
But by far the biggest fishery is Southern Blue Fin Tuna and it's story goes back to wooden vessels like the famous Tacoma.
"The Heldane Brothers built the boat," said Graham. "They had a loan from the Playford Government and they came to Lincoln in 1952 to target tuna." That was in the days of poling when blokes would haul 130-kilogram tuna onto the decks.
Today boats go miles off shore to the edge of the Great Australian Bight, catch tuna in large nets, transfer them into pens and slowing bring them back to Lincoln for fattening up. It's an industry, which has had it booms and busts and generated fabulous wealth along the way.
And it's wealth that has created a wonderful Port Lincoln playground and Graham Daniels' electric boat is a great way to see it all.
Marina Boat Cruises
Lincoln Cove Marina
Port Lincoln
Graham Daniels Ph 0402 155 763Published 24th August 2008
