Virtual fish markets are being embraced by the seafood industry as it shifts online in a bid to weather the downturn from the Coronavirus pandemic.

Key points: Seafood retailers in NSW have moved to online ordering and deliveries to keep business afloat during the COVID-19 pandemic

Seafood retailers in NSW have moved to online ordering and deliveries to keep business afloat during the COVID-19 pandemic The Professional Fisher's Association is working with the Department of Primary Industries to help the industry to go digital

The Professional Fisher's Association is working with the Department of Primary Industries to help the industry to go digital Local prawns and fish encouarged to become household staples as prices fall

The price of delicacies like king prawns have plummeted as low as $19 per kilogram in recent times due to the absence of exports to international markets and restaurant closures.

It has caused a rush of seafood sales at Coffs Harbour on the NSW Mid North Coast, where one co-op sold a massive two tonnes of seafood locally in four days.

"We were surprised with the volumes we sold, it was encouraging leading into Easter," said Coffs Harbour Fishermen's Co-op General manager, Bob St John.

"The seafood price is very comparable to beef and pork at the moment — those products have gone through the roof."

He is hopeful the co-op continues to source its catch at a competitive price to entice locals to make seafood part of their staple diet.

While many customers continue to visit co-ops and fish markets to hand-pick their seafood of choice, the industry has been exploring different approaches as social lockdowns linger.

Seafood hooked online

The Coffs Harbour Fishermen's Co-Op and others along the NSW coastline have moved to online ordering and deliveries for the first time in a bid to keep customers buying local seafood.

The Professional Fisher's Association's chief executive officer, Tricia Beatty said it was working with the Department of Primary Industries to assist the industry transition to an online delivery system.

Tricia Beatty is the CEO of the Professional Fisher's Association of NSW. ( ABC News: Kerrin Thomas )

She said models similar to online food site G-Fresh were being analysed to develop an approach that could work for all fishos and retailers.

"We looked at what works best for those fishers who are tech savvy and want to step into that type of arena and others who don't and how do we help those guys as well?"

"We need to make everybody has access to online seafood."

Prawns are an Easter lunch favourite across the country. ( ABC Coffs Coast: Claudia Jambor )

Fish markets go west

South Coast seafood businesses are tapping into inland farmers markets to keep revenue flowing.

Narooma Seafood's Hayley Abbott has sold its catch at the Riverina Producers' Market at Wagga Wagga for the past two weeks.

She said the opportunity to sell at farmers market in the west had been a "blessing in disguise".

It took just 23 minutes to sell out of all prawns and lobsters at the Riverina Producers’ Market in Wagga Wagga on Thursday. ( ABC Riverina: Cara Jeffery )

"We usually export 80 per cent of our tuna and 10 per cent we sell wholesale and to restaurants, so with the collapse of all those markets it has given us enough stock to head out west," Ms Abbott said.

Despite the positive pivot inland for their business, Ms Abbott said the industry was in uncharted waters.

"COVID-19 is having a massive impact on our business and not only in our area, but for a lot of seafood businesses around Australia," she said.