Trials for oyster harvesting on the Gippsland Lakes have been carried out over the past three years with funding from the State Government and now a further $400,000 has been invested by the Federal Government via the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRD).
Matt Jones, from FRD, said everyone involved in the current program should be “extremely proud” of the work completed so far, saying the success of the program is most encouraging.
Andy Baker, an oyster farmer with 30 years of experience growing oysters in the Pambula area of southern New South Wales, said the trials were encouraging, seeing that after two to three years the oysters have grown to a shell suitable for market.
Tasting the local oysters (Victorian grown Sydney Rock Oysters), Andy said they currently had good taste and the size was pleasing.
Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation (GLaWAC) and State Government local manager of projects and Aboriginal engagement, Craig Ingram, recently placed 60,000 oysters to be farmed in the sites around Rigby and Flannagan islands.
Mr Ingram, a long-term sustainable fisheries advocate himself, said the increased amount of baby oysters to the new growing zones was placed to see if the areas could carry that amount of stock. He acquainted the trial to knowing “how many cattle you could run to an acre and make them fat”.
Chair of GLaWAC, Troy McDonald, said the strength-based project involving young local Aboriginal people was encouraging and GLaWAC was keen to work cooperatively with everyone to secure positive outcomes all round.
Well-known local and current chair of the Victorian Fisheries Authority (VFA), Graeme Dear, attended the practical on-water education morning and said he, along with the
VFA, was encouraged with the trials and information collected for the success of the oyster
farming venture that could see oysters from
the Gippsland Lakes delivered to local pubs, clubs and cafes in the future.
Oysters were farmed in the Gippsland Lakes many years ago, but farming ventures back then did not have the science, research and technology that is being used currently.
State Minister for Outdoor Recreation, Steve Dimopoulos, said this project was “laying the groundwork for local jobs, leading to long-term benefits for the region and we are backing it all the way”.
“It’s exciting to think Victorians could soon enjoy oysters grown on the Gippsland Lakes,” he said.
The project is a joint venture between GLaWAC, the State Government and now the Federal Government and the VFA.
Oyster Farm trial site.
