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Merimbula oyster farming icon, Jack Cole, has sadly passed away at the age of 98.
Growing Sydney rock oysters on the far south coast of NSW for over 65 years, Jack was taught the tricks of the trade by his father Sam in the late 1940’s. During his time on the water Jack saw it all – droughts, fires, floods and in recognition of his standing in the industry, in 2010 the Austasia Aquaculture Journal published a 5-page article re-counting Jack’s life in the industry. You can read the article here.
A pivotal member of the old OFA (Oyster Farmers Association), Jack is remembered fondly by those in the industry. Kel Henry, who farms in Wonboyn Lake, vividly remembers entering the industry 30 years ago and being told to “farm like jack. If you want to be a good oyster farmer, you follow Jack Cole.”
Following his father’s example, Jack imparted his farming knowledge onto his son Peter, who continued the family business of oyster farming into a 9th decade before retiring himself last year.
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To support NSW oyster sales, an online directory of oyster farms & oyster retailers is being created. Sitting on the NSW Oysters website this searchable map will help customers find oysters. Users will also be able to filter their searches by:
- oyster farms
- farms offering shed gate sales
- those offering mail orders
- those offering home delivery
- those offering tourism experiences
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Don't want to pin your shed? We understand that not everyone will want to tag the location of their farm, but may still want their contact details listed. In such cases we suggest tagging your main farming estuary as an alternative to 'pinning' your shed. You can also attach up to 5 photos to go with your listing.
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It is FREE to advertise in these classifieds. Items could include equipment, oysters, businesses or services. Please send details to andy@oceanwatch.org.au or call 0488656366. Please limit your description to 100 words or less, and remember to include your contact details & location. You may also include photos with your post.
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This section provides a link to the latest information on spat availability. The first link provides an update on the latest hatchery runs. For more information about spat availability, prices and ordering please contact the hatcheries and nurseries directly. For information on the breeding program, please contact the Select Oyster Company on selectoysterco@gmail.com. The second link provides access to a directory of NSW wild caught spat suppliers. To update or add your details to this directory please contact Andy Myers (0488656366 / andy@oceanwatch.org.au.)
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Select Oyster Company (SOCo) - Update by Matt Wassnig
The Select Oyster Company (SOCo) are pleased to report that Jan-Mar 2020 was a record Quarter for spat production since commencement of the family lines breeding program, with in excess of 11 million spat produced by hatcheries. SOCo encourages growers looking for stock to take note of the availability listed in this newsletter from active hatcheries / nurseries. Limited funds are still available for growers to obtain a full rebate of the breeding program levy attached to spat purchases - apply at selectoysterco@gmail.com
Our thoughts go out to farmers recently impacted by QX disease on the Macleay River. SOCo Technical Officer Todd Graham has reported strong survival so far (+70%) of selectively bred disease resistant stock on his leases during this unfortunate event. Health of the oysters will continue to be monitored over time to gather further information on their performance.
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Aquafarms Queensland - Update by Dave Williams
Aquafarms Queensland has started to winter condition selected wild catch SRO for a early spawning in August. The spat from our last run is exceptional - deep cupped, quick growing spat and little mortality. Our new nursery growers are all doing a great job and we enjoy seeing and getting feedback from happy customers. We wish to thank Sterling Cullenwood, Tim Brown, Mike Jay and Chris Pacshaldis for their industry Selected Wild Broodstock.
We had to deliver spat to NSW due to the Covid-19 as there was no airfreight, but this allowed us to meet nursery farmers and discussing questions and any problem solving and working advice. Kevin and Sandra are visiting all of our clients in the middle of June to discuss nursery techniques and provide help with questions. We are fortunate to have Sandra working for the company with algae production which is the best quality we have produced. Our new seawater chiller is working to expectations and means we can control higher seawater temperatures and better mitigation for larvae rearing. This season we will be doing 4 hatchery runs due to increased demand. High quality hatchery spat is the future for the industry to grow oysters bigger, deep-shaped, faster growth and holding condition longer for a quicker turn over and increased cash flow. That is really the bottom line, increasing returns and mitigating financial risk.
Photo - Beautiful Selected Wild SRO 2 year old Broodstock now conditioning, note deep wide cuppy shell with exceptional growth.
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Bruce Redmayne Oysters - Update by Bruce Redmayne
In late 2019 Seven Seas Oysters opened its nursery operation to the wider oyster farming community to support the growing need for spat. Our spat, sourced from Aquafarms Queensland, produces a beautiful, fast growing oyster that many growers all over NSW have had success with. For over 8 years we have been learning and improving our nursery techniques and have found we get our best results with a fast flow in our upwellers to encourage growth and maintain a clean environment for our delicate babies. When our oysters grow big enough they are deployed in tumblers that gently rotate with the tide to keep consistent growth and a deeper cup. As the oysters grow we gradually take them to higher energy leases with good water flow and great food content. This ensures our spat are of the highest quality we can manage as they make their way to our customers.
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Free - Rural Financial Counselling Service
The world of government grants & loans can be a confusing place and changes often. To help work out which packages are most relevant to your situation, the government funds a Rural Financial Counselling Service - a network of regionally based financial counsellors. This is a free service and they normally come out in person to advise on eligible grants and funding opportunities. You can locate your nearest Rural Financial Counsellor here.
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Economic responses - Support for business
DPI maintain a website detailing Natural Disaster / Covid-19 Assistance that you may be able to access from the NSW Government. Please check out the website by clicking here.
For Federal assistance, please check the Treasury's website for the latest information. Some of the initiatives on offer includes:
- Job-keeper payments
- Boosting cash-flow for employers
- Temporary relief for financially distressed businesses
- Increase in instant asset write-off
- Backing business investment
- Supporting apprentices & trainees
- Support for coronavirus affected regions & communities
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NSW Sector Development Grants
NSW Sector Development Grants offer funding of between $50k - $10m, and are designed to support the long-term recovery and resilience of bush-fire affected agricultural & horticultural industries. Funding is available for projects focussing on job creation and that increase value-add production, support supply-chain efficiencies, product diversification and market expansion. Matching co-contributions are required, which may be cash and/or in-kind. More information is available here. You can download the grant guidelines here.
A number of projects are being packaged together as part of a coordinated application for the oyster industry. If anyone has any ideas that align with the intent of this funding, and could benefit the whole NSW oyster industry, please feel free to get in touch with Rebecca Hamilton or myself.
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NSW Seafood Innovation Fund
Oyster farmers can access low-interest loans of up to $500,000 to invest in modern technology, equipment and systems to improve the productivity and profitability of their business.
The Seafood Innovation Fund is available to meet the cost of carrying out permanent capital works. that will;
- improve assets and infrastructure,
- identify and address risks,
- help build resilience to changes in seasonal conditions, and
- ensure long term productivity and sustainable use of the marine and land-based environment.
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Market Diversification Virtual Workshops
Food Innovation Australia (FIAL) are hosting a series of 3 virtual workshops on market diversification. The aim of these sessions are to:
- assist participants in discovering domestic opportunities that will deliver growth and reduce risk, and
- assist participants with current customers (improved customer and channel planning and execution); and expand on current customer base (new customers and channels).
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Free TAFE NSW courses - Covid-19 support
TAFE NSW are offering 21 free short courses online to assist anyone across the state who wants to upskill during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Those that may be of interest to oyster farmers include:
- eMarketing for small business
- Engaging customers using social media
- Websites for small businesses
- Digital literacy skills
- Business administration skills
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$110m freight scheme developed to access overseas markets
The Morrison government is injecting $110 million to get international trade moving by helping organise hundreds of cargo flights carrying agricultural and seafood products to overseas markets.
For those looking to export and take advanatge of these international freight support measures - please share your freight requirements with the Department of Agriculture, Water & the Environment by clicking here.
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Non-delivery of oyster punts
There have been a few reports of NSW farmers commissioning oyster punts from a company in Somersby on the central coast - only for these vessels never to turn up. Farmers are being left thousands of dollars out of pocket, and yet the company is still taking orders.
Kel Henry (Wonboyn Lake oyster farmer) is collecting details of anyone who has lost money to this company. Please contact Kel on 0477054590 to report your experience.
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Narooma Oyster Festival goes online
With the cancellation on public gatherings, the Narooma Oyster Festival shifted focus to producing a terrific 40 minute documentary exploring some of our oyster producing estuaries on the NSW south coast.
Featuring chef Paul West (from River Cottage Australia), the crew flew down the coast and stopped in to have a chat with four oyster farming businesses. Brilliant work to everyone involved. Farmers featured included:
- Damon & Linda Fernihough (Out of the Blue Oysters, Narooma)
- Sue McIntyre & Greg Carton (Broadwater oysters, Pambula)
- Pip & Dom Boyton (Merimbula Gourmet Oysters, Merimbula)
- Jade Norris (Wray St Oyster Shed, Batemans Bay)
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Harvey Norman Delicious Produce Award winners announced
Well done to everyone who entered the Harvey Norman Delicious Produce Awards. Big congratulations to the state winners.
NSW:
- Australia's Oyster Coast - Appellation Oysters (Wagonga)
- Mimosa Rock Oysters - The Boxer
- Tathra Oysters - Tathra Oysters 5 yo Bistro Grade
- Wapengo Rocks Wild Organic Oysters - Premium Grade Wapengo Rock Oyster
South Australia:
- Gazander Oysters - Gazander Oysters Premium Pacific Oysters
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Development of NSW pearl industry featured on ABC Landline
Broken Bay Pearls was recently featured on ABC Landline discussing development of the pearling industry in NSW, and use of pearl meat in the edible oyster market. You can watch the 11 min video here.
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Seafood Industry Australia (SIA) launch #EatSeafoodAustralia campaign
Seafood Industry Australia (SIA) have launched an #EatSeafoodAustralia campaign and are asking those in the industry to help spread the work. A series of images have been produced, and suggested social media posts for your use:
- Join me in buying and eating Australian seafood to help support our seafood industry! #EatSeafoodAustralia
- Seafood is packed full of omega-3s which reduce inflammation, support your immune system, and can even help reduce stress and anxiety — things we all need right now! #EatSeafoodAustralia
- Although the coronavirus has changed our day-to-day lives, it doesn't need to change the way we eat. So, buy Australian seafood, and support Australian jobs.#EatSeafoodAustralia
- #EatSeafoodAustralia to help save Aussie jobs.
- Show your support for the Australian seafood industry by joining the #EatSeafoodAustralia campaign and buying Australian seafood.
- Join me in buying and eating Australian seafood and sharing it to your social channels, tagged with #EatSeafoodAustralia! Can I count you in?
- Australia's seafood industry needs your help! Join the #EatSeafoodAustralia movement and buy Aussie seafood to help save Aussie jobs.
- I’ve committed to buy and eat Australian seafood to support our nation's seafood businesses. Share if you're in! #EatSeafoodAustralia
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NSW DPI - Oyster Reef Project in Port Stephens
NSW DPI has recently released a video featuring it's oyster reef restoration efforts in Port Stephens. The project used 3,300 tonnes of rock and 180 cubic metres of oyster shell to construct 1ha of oyster reef habitat in the bay.
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Fortnightly Market Trends Bulletin
A market trends bulletin for the latest market impacts and consumer behaviour trends during COVID-19 is being prepared by the Queensland Government.
This will be published every fortnight, and while it's based on QLD data it includes some generic insights of relevance to other parts of the country. You can read issue one by clicking here.
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Snap Freezing
ABC Catalyst recently published a video on the science behind snap freezing of seafood. The engaging video also features blind consumer tasting of sashimi using frozen vs. fresh fish.
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Virus shutdown the latest blow for SA oyster industry
A good article was published at the start of May summarising the latest set-back for the South Australian oyster industry. Read the article here.
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Researchers start unlocking WA's tropical rock oyster potential
Western Australia has reached the first milestone to grow the tropical rock oyster industry across Northern Australia by using brood stock collected from Cone Bay in the Kimberley to breed the species in a hatchery. The Black Lip Rock Oyster spat will continue to be grown in the hatchery until it is relocated to one of the northern research trial sites off the Karratha and Derby coastlines in September.
Although the project is at an early stage, it's estimated when the fishery is up and running every 1,000 tonnes of oysters produced will create 250 jobs regional jobs. Read the media article here.
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Exotic Black scar oyster found in QLD
The exotic Black scar oyster (Crassostrea bilineata) has been detected in Far North Queensland. This species is commonly found in the Western Pacific from the Phillippines to Tonga & Fiji, but has not been previously detected in Australia. Little is known about this pest and its potential impacts, but it's important to minimise its spread.
If you see a suspicious marine organism, please report it to the Biosecurity Unit in your state. Read the full Biosecurity Alert issued by the Queensland Government.
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Australia planning a world-first biodiversity scheme
The Morrison government is planning to deliver a world-first scheme to financially reward farmers who protect sensitive ecosystems, restore native habitat, store carbon or make other environmental improvements.
Agriculture Minister David Littleproud wants to create a "world precedent" with a Biodiversity Stewardship Program under a $2 billion 'climate solution fund', whereby farmers could realise financial rewards for reducing greenhouse emissions while improving biodiversity on their land. Read the full article here.
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How is the Seafood Supply Chain Adapting to the Covid-19 Pandemic?
The Global Aquaculture Alliance recently held a roundtable discussion, talking about how seafood supply chains are adapting to the pandemic.
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Oyster farmers in the US give out 18,000 oysters
In early May oyster farmers in Massachusetts (US) gave out free oysters to their local community. Farmers were running out of room on leases and the giveaway was not just an effort to free up lease-space, but a tactic to get consumers thinking oysters, introduce people to the product, get some good media and to improve farmers position in the community. Read the media article here.
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Evinrude quits outboard engine manufacturing
The COVID-19 pandemic has claimed another big casualty – 113-year-old US outboard engine maker Evinrude. The US outboard engine maker will end production of its E-TEC and E-TEC G2 powerplants after a COVID-19 sales slump proved too much for the company. Read the full article here.
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History of oysters during pandemics
During the 1918 Spanish influenza epidemic, oysters were the hoarder equivalent of today's toilet paper - stockpiling was ubiquitous, prices skyrocketed, black markets developed.
Why the hysteria? Legend had it that oysters could fend off the flu, especially the rich, briny broth locked inside. It was fairly sound science. Zinc has been proven to be an immunity booster, and oysters are zinc powerhouses. Read the full article here.
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It is FREE to advertise employment listings. Please send through details via email to Andy@oceanwatch.org.au or call 0488656366.
Please include a job title, job summary, location, closing date and contact details. More detailed position descriptions, selection criteria etc. will be provided as a PDF link for download.
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There are a number of different committees and associations involved with the NSW oyster industry. Know who represents your interests.
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Thanks to all contributors. If you have any feedback or suggestions how we can improve this publication, please let me know
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