Earlier Start For Bluff Oyster Season

25 February 2000

The Minister of Fisheries, Hon Pete Hodgson, has agreed to oyster industry requests for an earlier start to the Bluff oyster season this year.

A survey of the oyster beds last year showed that the beds are continuing to rebuild, following the near-collapse of the fishery in the early 1990's. There is now no sign of the oyster disease Bonamia, which was responsible for the near-collapse.

The Minister has agreed to bring the season start date back from last year's date of April 11, to March 5. March was traditionally when the oyster season started, however the start of the season has been delayed in recent years to avoid dredging oysters during autumn, when oysters are susceptible to Bonamia.

To ensure the beds continue to rebuild, the total commercial catch limit for the season remains set at the conservative level of 14.95 million oysters.

ENDS

For further information please contact:
Allen Frazer
Policy Analyst
Ministry of Fisheries Dunedin