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Pacific Oysters - Description
The pacific oyster, a native species of Japan, is the most commonly cultured oyster in the world, representing 98 per cent of world cultured production in 2000. The species was first introduced to Tasmania in the 1940s and by the early 1960s pacific oysters were being farmed in that state. Following the failure of attempts to culture the native flat oyster, the hardier pacific oyster was introduced in 1969 to South Australia from Tasmania.).
Farming Development
Tasmania and South Australia are the main pacific oyster growing states. Pacific oysters are also cultured at Port Stephens in New South Wales.
The Tasmanian pacific oyster industry is based on the growing out of hatchery spat on licensed oyster farms primarily located in the Smithton, St Helens, Great Oyster Bay, Norfolk Bay and DEntrecasteaux Channel and Huon areas. The pacific oyster was introduced after the Second World War, but collection from natural spat settlement was marginal and unreliable.
It was not until a spat hatchery was established during the 1980s that growers were able to access reliable supplies of spat oysters and move to full commercial production. The release and implementation of Marine Farming Development Plans from 1995 has significantly increased the water available for shellfish aquaculture in Tasmania and the production of pacific oyster. Prior to the new Marine Farming Development Plans, the total area leased for oyster farming was 1351 hectares. Since the release of the plans another 700 hectares of water has been added. In 2001-02, Tasmania produced 3.1 million dozen pacific oysters valued at $11.6 million at the farm gate.
Pacific oyster farming activities in South Australia are based in five major areas: Murat Bay, Smoky Bay, Streaky Bay, Coffin Bay and Franklin Harbour, as well as on the eastern side of Yorke Peninsula and the north eastern side of Kangaroo Island.
South Australia produced 3.5 million dozen Pacific Oysters valued at $13.3 million at the farm gate.
Pacific oysters have been commercially cultivated in Port Stephens since 1991, but are declared a noxious fish in other New South Wales waters (NSW Fisheries 2001). In 2001-02, production of Pacific oysters in New South Wales was 444 000 dozen, valued at $1.95 million.
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REF. Australian Aquaculture. Industry profiles for selected species)
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