A THREE-YEAR aquaculture trial to grow oysters in the Gippsland Lakes has so far produced very encouraging signs of creating an industry for Gippsland’s Aboriginal community and boost local tourism.
The Minister for Outdoor Recreation, Steve Dimopoulos, said the results from the first three years of the trial in the Gippsland Lakes to determine how well Sydney Rock Oysters (Saccostrea glomerata) grow in the lakes system, were excellent.
The trial has been assessing the viability, growth rates, eating quality and food safety of Sydney Rock Oysters, which are native to Gippsland, at four sites around Flannagans and Rigbys Islands, west of Lakes Entrance. Oysters produced in the Gippsland Lakes trial so far are growing at similar rates to established oyster farms in the estuaries of southern New South Wales at Merimbula and Pambula.
The $250,000 trial is part of the state government’s $96 million package to improve aquaculture, fishing, boating and piers and has been boosted more recently by a $400,000 investment from the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation, on behalf of the Australian Government, to aid its expansion.
The trial is a partnership between the Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation (GLaWAC) and the Victorian Fisheries Authority (VFA). GLaWAC and the VFA are expanding the trial month through the addition of 60,000 oysters that will find homes in two of the existing growing sites and three new ones nearby, all in water less than one metre deep.
The expansion will improve understanding of the commercial viability of the project and oyster growth under higher stocking densities, typical of commercial operations.
A native oyster industry in the Gippsland Lakes would create jobs for Gunaikurnai, support regional tourism and supply fresh, local and sustainable seafood.
Victorian-grown Sydney Rock Oysters could be back on the menu for seafood lovers, which would be a huge win for Victoria. Existing oyster aquaculture interstate is worth more than $100 million, so if the trial is successful and permanent oyster farming becomes established, it could lead to significant economic prosperity for Gippsland Lakes towns.
The Interim CEO of the Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation, Charee Smith, said the expansion was another step toward a self-determined future for Gunaikurnai people – grounded in Country, guided by culture, and driven by indigenous priorities. “But this isn’t just for us. If we get it right, it creates jobs, skills and opportunities that flow right across the region,” she said.
For more information visit
www.vfa.vic.gov.au/oystertrial
