Tasmania’s oyster industry is vulnerable as it recovers from the devastation caused by Pacific Oyster Mortality Syndrome (POMS) in summer last year.
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Affected oyster farmers lost approximately 70 to 80 per cent of their stock.
However, Oysters Tasmania executive officer Sue Grau said she was positive the industry would be better at facing POMS in the future.
POMS is a fast-acting virus, which puts oysters to sleep, causing their shells to gape open and leaving them vulnerable to predators. It is harmless to humans.
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Ms Grau said, “We are an innovative and strong industry working together implementing a range of strategies to mitigate the effects of POMS”.
Selective breeding, including work carried out by Australian Seafood Industries, was an important tool to create POMS-resistant oysters, she said.
“The future will see Oysters Tasmania continuing to work closely with government and research organisations like IMAS to tackle these issues.”
Ms Grau said, “With the industry in recovery mode, we are vulnerable to any further pressures and biosecurity and algal blooms are our biggest current threat. This can mean growing areas are closed for significant periods of time,which could be devastating for businesses already impacted by POMS”.
She anticipated the financial impact would be felt for at least two years as oysters take at least 18 months to grow.
The virus appeared to be triggered by high sea water temperatures, she said.
A government spokeswoman said the following the detection of POMS, the government worked in partnership with industry to support affected oyster farmers in managing the threat of disease.
“Through our support of institutions, such as IMAS, there is research underway into the development of POMS-resistant oysters as well as looking at ways to support and provide for sustainable fisheries into the future,” she said.
Last year, Primary Industries and Water Minister Jeremy Rockliff said Tasmania’s Pacific Oyster industry provided 35 per cent of the Australian Pacific Oyster production volume at an estimated farm gate value of $25 million.
The Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment’s current list of three areas of differing disease risk is:
POMS free areas
This is all areas of Tasmania north of a line through Launceston.
Sea Elephant Bay (King Island), Montague, Duck Bay, Big Bay, Port Sorell, and Moulting Bay (Georges Bay).
Intermediate areas – areas where there is little to no evidence of disease but a a risk of introduction.
This is the Huon-Channel area, Norfolk Bay and Great Oyster Bay.
Great Oyster Bay, Great Swanport, King George Sound, Eaglehawk Bay, Garfish Bay, Little Norfolk Bay, Port Arthur, Fleurtys Point, Great Bay, Long Bay Reef, Little Taylors Bay, Cloudy Bay Lagoon, Deep Bay, Gardners Bay, Port Esperance, Hastings Bay, Recherche Bay, and Dunalley Bay.
Infected areas – where POMS is known to occur.
Little Swanport, Blackman Bay, Pitt Water, Island Inlet, and Pipe Clay Lagoon.
Tess Brunton
I recently returned from across the ditch where I worked at New Zealand Fairfax paper The Timaru Herald and developed a love of mountains. Originally I'm a mainlander from an area known for cheese, the Bega Valley, who also dabbled in radio at ABC RCAFF before finding a place in newspapers. I can often be found hiking, caving or climbing when I'm not cursing at my work computer or technology in general.
I recently returned from across the ditch where I worked at New Zealand Fairfax paper The Timaru Herald and developed a love of mountains. Originally I'm a mainlander from an area known for cheese, the Bega Valley, who also dabbled in radio at ABC RCAFF before finding a place in newspapers. I can often be found hiking, caving or climbing when I'm not cursing at my work computer or technology in general.
