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Ref:694/03 |
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australia
- Apr 24, 2003 |
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Oyster Output Doubles
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THE State Government
(South Australia) used the official launch of the
oyster season in Adelaide last week to highlight the
industry's recent successes, including a doubling of
production to a value of AUD$13 million.
Seafood exporters meanwhile have echoed their thoughts
about a buoyant future, stating the recent disease
outbreak in Asia is not stopping strong demand for SA
oysters in Hong Kong and Singapore supermarkets.
Agriculture, Food and Fisheries Minister Paul Holloway
said the oyster industry was now the second highest
producing aquaculture sector in the State behind tuna.
The farm gate value of oyster production in 2001/2002
was $13 million, up by $2 million from the previous
year or an increase of $8 million over four years.
"SA oysters are now being eaten all around the world
in Asia, Europe, South Africa and the Middle East," Mr
Holloway said.
One of the entities leading the area of exports was
the growers' cooperative known as OYSA, which claims
to handle just over half the State's production.
Manager Ted Pettafor said the company had developed a
special high-pressure treatment process that made the
product very safe and permitted export to 16 clients
in 13 different countries.
"Oysters are not as much of a luxury as some other
seafood and people not only in Asia but around the
world are now able to buy our oysters in their own
supermarkets when they do their shopping," he said.
Mr Holloway identified challenges, including the need
to overcome a severe shortage in the supply of
juvenile oysters.
"However, the industry has faced some difficulties
this season with sourcing enough imported spat to
support ongoing development, which has highlighted the
need to secure and develop integrated supply and
production systems."
Mr Holloway said SA now led the nation in aquaculture
production producing about 38 per cent of the overall
production, which was worth about $300 million.
The SA Shellfish Quality Assurance Program and its
monitoring programs should take credit for the good
reputation of the product, and now he said similar
monitoring programs would be extended to other
aquaculture sectors to "ensure SA maintains its
position as a leader in responsible aquaculture".
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