The Tasmanian oyster industry
The Tasmanian oyster industry is a vibrant and developing marine farming sector in Tasmania. The Tasmanian oyster industry currently provides direct employment for over 300 people, who produce around 3.6 million dozen oysters each year, with an estimated 'farm gate' value of $20 million.
The Tasmanian industry is an Australian leader in culture technology. The industry is based primarily on the Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas) – with hatchery-reared juveniles being grown to market size on licensed marine farms. Since the establishment of the first of Tasmania's three hatcheries in the 1980s, growers have been able to access reliable supplies of spat oysters. Culture techniques have moved from sticks to plastic mesh baskets and envelopes.
Oysters are grown around the north, east and south-east coasts of Tasmania – from the far north-west coast through to the southern part of the D’Entrecasteaux Channel, south of Hobart. Most areas used by the oyster industry are leased within the intertidal zone, although there are some deeper water areas also being used. There are currently about 70 licensed growers, leasing a total area of about 1655 ha.
Included in the number of oyster growers are a number of 'on-growers' who specialise in the production of pre-market oysters up to an average size of 40-55 mm. These oysters are then sold to 'finishers' who grow the oysters for another two to six months before selling into the food market. The great majority of Tasmanian oyster production is exported live and sold within the Australian domestic market. Tasmanian oysters are marketed in three forms: fresh unopened (by far the most common form), fresh opened, and frozen opened.
Most oyster businesses in Tasmania are run by owner-operators. The industry is mostly structured around family businesses with substantial capital development in the form of (inter-tidal) racking or (sub-tidal) longlines, barges, tractors and packing and handling sheds and equipment on shore. It is usual for each operator to own their own facilities.
The industry is regulated by the Tasmanian State government under the Marine Framing Planning Act 1995 and the Living Marine Resources Management Act 1995. The Tasmanian Shellfish Quality Assurance Program (TASQAP), funded by growers and the government, and is managed by the Department of Health and Human Services under the Public Health Act 1997 and the Food Hygiene Act 1998. TASQAP coordinates routine monitoring of water quality in growing areas, to ensure the safety of farmed oysters for human consumption.
Sourced from: Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment.