Published on Port Lincoln Times 1 February 2017 – Click here to view the original article.
THE first lot of commercially viable oyster spat to come out of Yumbah Aquaculture is a much-needed boost to the industry, which has been suffering since an outbreak of Pacific Oyster Mortality Syndrome in Tasmania last year.
As a result of a ban on the movement of live pacific oysters and oyster spat from Tasmania, the local industry, which relies heavily on Tasmanian oyster spat, has been facing uncertainty.
Yumbah Aquaculture Port Lincoln general manager Tom Hyde said the amount of work undertaken on-site to get oyster spat production off the ground had been extraordinary.
“Since the establishment of the hatchery late last year, we have worked tirelessly in partnership with Cameron of Tasmania to get the operation here at Port Lincoln up and running as quickly as possible,” Mr Hyde said.
“We are extremely proud of this milestone and that it has been achieved less than 12 months after the discovery of POMS in Tasmania, and the cessation of trade between South Australia and Tasmania.”
Cameron of Tasmania general manager Ben Cameron said the first oyster spat to undergo sea trials at Port Lincoln had shown excellent growth, shape and hardness characteristics as well as extremely low levels of mortality.
“The oyster spat produced at Yumbah Port Lincoln will mirror our operation in Tasmania which has consistently produced world class oyster products for more than 30 years,” Mr Cameron said.