Key facts
- Approximately 320 bags of juvenile oysters were stolen from a farm in Scotts Creek, Oxley Island.
- The stolen oysters are valued at an estimated $350,000.
- The theft occurred earlier this year and was reported to police on Tuesday.
- The oysters belong to Latitude 31 Oyster Co, a Sydney rock oyster farm.
- The stolen molluscs require an additional four to six months of growth before they can be sold.
Police are investigating the alleged theft of approximately 320 bags of juvenile oysters, valued at $350,000, from an oyster farm in Scotts Creek, Oxley Island, on the New South Wales mid-north coast. The incident was reported to authorities on Tuesday morning.
Latitude 31 Oyster Co, which operates the farm, confirmed on social media that it had been the victim of a "massive" oyster theft. The company highlighted the significant impact such thefts have on individual farmers, their businesses, families, and the reputation of the entire NSW oyster industry. They urged the community to be vigilant and report anyone attempting to sell a large quantity of cocktail or bistro-sized oysters.
The stolen oysters were not yet ready for sale and would require an additional four to six months of growth. Gary Rodley, owner of Tathra Oysters, suggested that the scale of the theft indicates the perpetrator might be another producer within the industry, as it is not a quantity for personal consumption. He noted that fully grown oysters could fetch between $1.50 and $2 each.
An anonymous oyster farmer from the Manning River area mentioned a recent shortage of Sydney rock oysters, partly due to major flooding in 2021 and a three-year farming cycle. This farmer had previously invested in an artificial oyster with a tracker, which led to a successful court case against a thief in 2022. Many farmers have installed surveillance equipment as a deterrent due to growing demand for Sydney rock oysters, which are considered a rare and highly prized variety.