Cull of farmed oysters begins in Stewart Island

Hundreds of oyster cages in Big Glory Bay. Photo / Petrina Wright

The cull of Stewart Island's caged oysters is under way, about three weeks after a lethal parasite was first detected in the area.

An oyster farm operated by Sanford in a joint venture with another company, Tio, is the first farm in Big Glory Bay, Stewart Island, to have its entire flat oyster stock removed in a bid to prevent Bonamia ostreae spreading to the Bluff wild oyster population.

A total of 120 cages, each containing about 40kg to 60kg of oysters, was lifted yesterday.
Sanford's was one of two Stewart Island farms where the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) found the parasite last month.

Sanford's boat San Mystic uplifts the first of its oyster cages in Big Glory Bay, Stewart Island, yesterday.

It was the first time it had been found outside the Marlborough Sounds and Nelson areas where it was first detected in 2015. It is fatal to flat oysters, but not harmful to humans.

The parasite has not been found in extensive sampling in the Foveaux Strait fishery.
MPI field headquarters manager for the operation Andrew Sander said there had been a few "teething troubles'', but he was "very pleased'' with how the removal work had begun yesterday in "perfect'' conditions at Big Glory Bay.