Oyster farmers fear spreading toxic algae could destroy $100m industry

SA’s oyster industry is on a knife’s edge, with multiple farms forced to shut and farmers turning to drastic measures to save money.

Gerri and Steve Bowley, have operated oyster leases at Stansbury for the past 7 years, but has been forced to close as toxic algae spreads.

• $100m oyster industry at risk

Oyster farmers say South Australia’s $100m shellfish industry is on a knife’s edge, fearing international exports could dry up as toxic algae spreads across the state.

Pacific Estate Oysters owner Steve Bowley has lost more than $10,000 after the Department of Primary Industries closed farms at Stansbury, Port Vincent and Kangaroo Island after toxins were found in the water.

Investigations are under way to identify the specific species of the toxic algae, and whether it is linked to the karenia mikimotoi outbreak affecting South Australia’s coastline.

The longtime Stansbury oyster farmer said producers were bracing for months without a sale, with reports the toxin levels in the water had increased.

Stansbury oyster farmer Steve Bowley has lost more than $10,000 since being forced to close

“I’m putting off my boat service as that $1000 is better in my pocket because I just don’t know how long it’s going to last,” Mr Bowley said.

“One of the other growers is eating stale bread with peanut paste, we’re all pulling our heads in.

“The bills keep coming in and without any income it’s all one-way traffic, we’re just trying to survive.”

Oyster farms in Kangaroo Island, Stansbury and Port Vincent have closed, with testing underway on the Eyre Peninsula. Picture: Brenton Edwards

He said producers had started regularly meeting and banding together, concerned that they were being kept in the dark by PIRSA.

While the current concentration of the toxin isn’t concerning, SA Health advises that oysters contaminated with the toxin can cause illness.

Harvesting areas in Port Lincoln and Coffin Bay still remain open, with all oysters from those regions safe to eat.

But regularly testing was still being carried out to ensure the lucrative Eyre Peninsula industry wasn’t impacted.

Paul Dee with some juvenile oysters at Southern Yorke Oysters at Stansbury.

Southern Yorke Oysters manager Michael Dee feared the price of oysters could drop by 50 per cent if international exporters got scared off by the toxic algae.

“Everyone on the Eyre Peninsula would be holding their breath, hoping it doesn’t go that way, but I guess eventually it might,” Mr Dee said.

“Some pretty major importers and exporters won’t be buying stock due to South Australia having the toxin in the water, even though it may not be in Coffin Bay, Streaky Bay, Ceduna.

“If people have contracts overseas and that stops, then those oysters have to be sold somewhere else which will drive the market price down.

“It could just become a massive arm wrestle where people are undercutting everybody.”

A spokesman for PIRSA said the temporary closure was a “precautionary measure” and there were no health concerns for the SA public.