Oyster growers in the Bega Valley have enjoyed favourable conditions in 2017 as other Australian districts battle with heavy rains and disease.
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Caroline Henry of Wonboyn Rock Oysters is one such grower who has decided to hold off selling her Sydney Rock oysters through winter to make the most of the market demands later in the year.
“There’s an expected shortfall of oysters in the market between now and the next 18 months,” she said.
Tasmania’s oyster industry suffered a blow last year after the spread of Pacific Oyster Mortality Syndrome (POMS) caused millions of dollars of damage.
South Australian farmers are also worried about POMS damaging their state’s sector, while heavy rains in northern NSW has affected some growers ability to sell year round.
“Unfortunately we have to think ahead down here and make sure every oyster has the ability to grow quicker,” Ms Henry said.
“What we’ve been able to do on the South Coast is get rid of the oysters we want to sell.”
Ms Henry and her husband, Kel, ceased selling their oysters after steady rains in May.
As chair of the NSW Farmers Oyster Committee for a third year, she understands the potential success for Bega Valley oysters due to a growing reputation over the past five years.
“”We’ve really, really pushed our product and had a great response,” Ms Henry said.
“Wholesalers want a continued supply. We now have wholesalers calling us, not us calling them.
“But we’re still a collective business as most of us are small farmers who work together and promote each other down here.”
She said recent gains had resulted in farmers reinvesting in their businesses, including the Henrys, who just last month purchased a new grading machine to lessen the load on manual labour.
Despite the recent positive conditions in the South Coast, Ms Henry said challenges always remained.
“Water quality is always the number one challenge,” she said.
“A good oyster can easily be compromised because of poor water quality.”
Theft and biosecurity are also continued threats.
“You have to be vigilant. If there’s a shortfall in the market, wholesalers might be looking at bringing oysters in from overseas if there’s a virus here,” Ms Henry said.
Such issues and more will be discussed when the state’s farmers convene for the annual NSW Oyster Conference at Merimbula in August.
