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New Zealand

Oyster quality that exceeds expectations as the season begins

Oyster season set sail this week and with good reason to cheer, as the quality of the shellfish fell short of expectations.

The first oyster boat departed Bluff on Monday night, headed for the Foveaux Strait and returned laden with heavy shells around noon yesterday.

Owner and Captain of Marina Fish and Oysters Southern Enterprise Greg Meade returned to Southport around 11:00 am.

“The oysters are in much better shape than they have been in years…

“Catch rates were similar to last year, but quality was much better, so hopefully we can continue,” he said.

“I think I did a little better than I expected.”

He said the weather was perfect. “It doesn’t get any better than this”

Longtime oyster fisherman Willie Calder has been in the Channel since 3am on his boat. Argosy And he said the oyster sizes were much better than in previous seasons.

“They obviously have more to eat this year.”

He said the presence of mutton birds on the surface indicated that the oysters were fattening, indicating that there were far more birds in the sea compared to last year.

Calder said pristine conditions have arrived for the 2023 season.

“It’s like glass. It’s beautiful.”

Barnes Oysters manager Graeme Wright said the 2022 season was the worst quality oysters the industry has seen in 26 years, and prior to a pre-season survey, there was no evidence of a difference in the 2023 season. Said there wasn’t much.

He said he had heard rumors that the quality had improved this year, but waited until the food arrived at his factory before thinking about it.

Wright said the factory decided to process the first batch just one day after the start of the season, but had already received hundreds of calls asking for oysters.

It was expected to process 3,500 to 4,000 oysters per day.

“People have been calling from all over the country and I have already knocked on our door asking for them.

“People love it – they are very passionate,” he said.

The commercial catch allowance for the Fouveau Strait was set at 14.95 million fish, but a more conservative approach in recent years has been for the industry to agree to what is called a ‘shelf’, meaning the industry will catch a lower limit. It was a process, he said.

“We’ll start with 7.5 million oysters and see how it goes.”

The season ends on August 31st.

ben.tomsett@odt.co.nz

https://www.odt.co.nz/regions/southland/oyster-quality-beyond-expectations-season-starts Oyster quality that exceeds expectations as the season begins

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