Growing Tasmania's Oyster Industry

Tasmania is one of the purest and cleanest oyster growing environments on earth and Tasmania's Pacific oysters, famous for their impressive quality and delicious taste and texture, are amongst the best table oysters available. The oyster industry in Tasmania is the second largest in Australia behind South Australia and contributes upwards of $17 million to the Tasmanian economy, producing around 3 million dozen oysters annually and employing around 300 people on a seasonal basis.

Rural Development Services' Specialist Expertise

The Tasmanian oyster industry, with support from government, freight and logistics industries has always been protective of consumer interests. Tasmania implemented one of the first Shellfish Quality Assurance Programs in Australia. Tasmanian aquaculture and agriculture specialists Rural Development Services (RDS) have now been engaged to assist in forming and managing 'Oysters Tasmania' to take the industry to the next level of professionalism in growing, marketing and distribution for the benefit of stakeholders and consumers.

RDS has specialist expertise in the seafood industry. In 2006 RDS conducted a 'Review of Seafood Freight Logistics in Tasmania' to identify ways to improve communication and coordination between the Tasmanian Fishing Industry Council (now the Tasmanian Seafood Industry Council) and the Tasmanian Freight Logistics Council. In 2006 RDS helped initiate 'Shellfish Futures' the Oyster Industry's annual workshop, and continues to assist Shellfish Culture Ltd in developing and commercialising technology to produce spawn-less oysters.

Innovation, Support and Sustainability

RDS senior partner and CEO Dr Tom Lewis has taken on the role of Executive Officer of Oysters Tasmania. Tom is a former business manager of the Australian Food Safety Centre of Excellence and currently manages the prominent national food industry organisation the Allergen Bureau. Oysters Tasmania now has all the resources of RDS at its fingertips," Tom said. "RDS will act as a secretariat for a number of existing industry organisations to help represent the Tasmanian oyster industry in national research, development and representational bodies.

"We [Oysters Tasmania] are focused on improving our profile, not just in the oyster industry, but in terms of government resources and getting access to the right people in order to help grow the industry, produce more products and employ more people. We need to reliably produce quality oysters – our customers demand continuity of supply and consistently high quality.

Whole of Supply Chain Quality for Oysters Tasmania

"Our main focus is industry sustainability; we want to help industry consistently produce the world class oysters that it does. We will help coordinate efforts in prioritising, managing and implementing relevant research and development. Oysters Tasmania will be working to help the Tasmanian industry improve production quality, efficiency and pricing. Oyster prices have been static for some years, and one of Oysters Tasmania's overall objectives is to help improve profitability while maintaining our enviable environmental performance."

For further information go to www.oysterstasmania.org email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or phone 0458 601 057