Oyster beds in good condition

Press, 26 February 1987, Page 4

Oyster beds in good condition

PA Dunedin Oyster beds in Foveaux Strait are in good condition, according to a report by a fisheries consultant to the Bluff Oyster Boat Owners’ Association. A statement by an association spokesman, Mr Cliff Skeggs, said the over-all quality of oysters was “very good” in all areas sampled. The survey was by Mr R. Street, a Dunedin fisheries consultant. His report claims 93.5 per cent of oysters sampled are either “good or very good?' with 4 pier cent medium, 2 per cent poor and 0.5 per cent spawning. ■ The sample size was 1010 and eight areas were

•A, •• •- surveyed. Mr Street’s report claims the poor condition of oysters last season was caused primarily by a deficient food supply, whldi led to the disease, bonamia, attacking the shellfish. He said less krill and red whale feed were present last season, that seabirds were in poor condition and that the squid season was poor. He said this indicated there was less plant plankton, which is what the oysters feed on. "In contrast, this summer there is a ter greater abundance of surface krill, red whale teed and fish,” Mr Street said. The oyster season will begin on Sunday.