New South Wales thriving oyster industry has entirely washed out to sea in recent floods, leaving devastated oyster farmers counting the costs and consumers facing sky-high prices at the dinner table, the Daily Telegraph reports.
NSW Farmers oyster chair Todd Graham said the impact of the floods on the industry was statewide and “current indications do not look good”.
“As of last Friday, oyster farmers have reported $17 million in lost stock and damage to farm equipment and sheds, but not all oyster farmers have been able to assess losses yet,” Mr Graham said, stretching that it takes about three years to grow mature oysters and the growers may not have anything to sell until 2024.
With NSW the largest producer of the popular Sydney rock oyster, Frank Theodorou from GetFish said “as far as NSW is concerned every farm is shut”.
“Tide currents are quite strong and powerful so they’ve uplifted and uprooted leases and basically they’ve completely lost them,” Mr Theodorou said.
“So those farmers will be struggling as they will be starting from scratch again.”
GetFish are currently flying Sydney rock oysters from Western Australia to supply their Easter Show stall. Mr Theodorou said consumers could expect to see an increase in oyster prices on the menu.
*Source: The Daily Telegraph
