Four years after two devastating setbacks almost wiped them out Port Stephens oyster growers are back in business with demand for their produce running hotter than ever.
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“It takes about three years to turn a crop of oysters over. This has been the biggest harvest since the (April 2015) superstorm,” Port Stephens Shellfish committee chairman and Karuah oyster farmer Mark Hunter said.
“Most of our oysters go to Sydney and the demand is growing.”
Port Stephens’ aquaculture industry, which is primarily made up of oyster growers, is today worth more than $42 million.
The port’s 45 oyster farming businesses now employ about 100 people.
A Department of Primary Industries spokesperson said this year’s Port Stephens oyster harvest was likely to be up 8 per cent on last year, which was also up 8 per cent on the previous year
“This reflects a continuation of the trend of the resurgence of the NSW oyster industry,” she said.
About a million Pacific oysters worth more than $5 million were lost as a result of a mystery virus that spread through the port in 2014.
The incident also sent more than a dozen smaller growers who relied on Pacific Oysters to the wall.
Mr Hunter said only a small quantity of Pacific Oysters were now grown in Port Stephens with most growers focusing solely on Sydney Rock Oysters.
The next blow was the April 2015 superstorm that wiped out millions of dollars worth of equipment and crippled many growers.
“Almost everyone had infrastructure that went to the bottom or had to be rebuilt,” Mr Hunter said.
Mr Hunter credited retired Army engineer Brigadier Darren Naumann, who was appointed to lead the regional recovery effort, for helping the oyster growers get back on their feet.
“He played a critical role in bringing together government departments and industry groups. That’s something that hadn’t been happening previously,” he said.
Destination Port Stephens chief executive Eileen Gilliland said oysters were a critical part of the area’s $539 million tourist economy.
“They were a massive drawcard at our recent Love Seafood festival. We are looking at doing more with our local growers next year,” she said.
“Visitors come to Port Stephens because of the beautiful environment plus the food and wine. Our oysters are a big part of that attraction.”
Mr Hunter said increased investment in the local industry in recent years pointed to a bright future for the area’s oyster growers.
“Demand is strong and consumer confidence is high,” he said.
“Most businesses are worth a third more than three years ago.”
Matthew Kelly
Matthew Kelly has worked as a journalist for more than 25 years. He has been working as a general reporter at the Newcastle Herald since 2018. In recent years he has reported on subjects including environment, energy, water security, manufacturing and higher education. He has previously covered issues including the health and environmental impacts of uncovered coal wagons in the Hunter Valley, the pollution of legacy of former industrial sites and freedom of information issues.
Matthew Kelly has worked as a journalist for more than 25 years. He has been working as a general reporter at the Newcastle Herald since 2018. In recent years he has reported on subjects including environment, energy, water security, manufacturing and higher education. He has previously covered issues including the health and environmental impacts of uncovered coal wagons in the Hunter Valley, the pollution of legacy of former industrial sites and freedom of information issues.
