Northland Oyster Farms May Be Profitable

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30480, 30 June 1964, Page 14

Northland Oyster Farms May Be Profitable

(From Our Own Reporter)

WELLINGTON, June 29.

Plans for the development of a commercial oyster farming industry north of Auckland, to yield more than 25,000 sacks of rock oysters a year, are being examined by the Marine Department.

About 25 applications for proposed sites, from Coromandel to Awanui, are being investigated.

No detailed assessment of the potential value of the industry has yet been made but estimates so far made indicate it could be worth more than £200,000.

The Minister of Marine (Mr Scott) said tonight he was sure commercial farming of oysters would bring a new era for Northland fishermen.

He said present proposals were for the department to issue licences to those wishing to experiment. In areas where no-one was

interested in doing experimental work and the department felt there might be good prospects it would itself set up “stakes”. Officials would then visit the various sites in an endeavour to keep track of the methods used and evaluate which appeared to be the most successful. It appeared, said Mr Scott, I that it would be four years before the full results would be apparent and would probably need to yield about 100 sacks a year to be economical. Officers of the department were at present making sure stakes set up at proposed sites

would not clutter up the foreshore or be a hindrance to navigation. The frame of stakes is normally laid at a point where it is covered by the sea for most of the day but clear of water for a certain time. Present plans are for the shellfish to be sold both locally and overseas and Mr

Scott is hoping they will find a ready market in France, where Australian oysters are being sold up to £4 10s a dozen. Mr Scott said many of the department’s officers in Northland were briefed in Wellington on plans being made.