2001 Commercial Bluff Oyster Season Delayed

19 February 2001

Concern about the disease Bonamia has prompted the Minister of Fisheries, Hon. Pete Hodgson, to agree to a request from the commercial oyster industry to delay the start of the Foveaux Strait commercial oyster season by three weeks.

The commercial Bluff oyster season will now commence on Sunday, 25 March. The closing date for the commercial season will still be 31 August.

There is no change for the recreational oyster season, which runs from 1 March to 31 August.

Oyster quota holders decided that, given the re-occurrence of Bonamia in one of the oyster beds last year, it was prudent to delay the start of the 2001 oyster season.

Bonamia is a naturally occurring disease that kills oysters, and occurs from time to time in Foveaux Strait. While it is unclear just what affects the spread of Bonamia, a three-week delay may avoid disturbing oysters when they are at their most vulnerable.

The disease is being intensively studied to determine the best way to minimise its impact on the oyster beds.

A Foveaux-Strait-wide survey of the beds is planned for later this year and the total commercial catch limit for the fishery season remains set at the conservative level of 14.95 million oysters.

ENDS

For further enquiries please contact:

Ministry of Fisheries
Allen Frazer
Dunedin office
Phone 03 474 0333 or 025 350379
Fax 03 477 6275