Oyster thieves raid commercial leases off Stradbroke Island in Christmas heist

Almost two tonnes of oysters worth $25,000 have been stolen in possibly a single night in an elaborate and brazen heist just before Christmas.

About 12,000 oysters were stolen from commercial leases on Stradbroke Island just before Christmas.

More than $25,000 worth of oysters have been stolen from commercial leases on Stradbroke Island in a devastating blow to growers.

Queensland Oyster Growers Association president Professor Andrew Robson said 12,000 oysters were stolen and $6000 in equipment destroyed in the weeks leading up to Christmas.

“You’re talking about a tonne and a half of oysters being removed in one night or potentially two nights,” Prof Robson said.

“So it was a well organised theft where there must have been an associated market to move those oysters to.

“Sadly, they are once again having to start over. The impact of these thefts on the growers and their families cannot be underestimated.”

Mr Robson said it was the second Christmas in a row that the leases had been targeted by thieves.

“You can’t just harvest and store 1000 dozen oysters on a dinghy,” he said.

“This was a well planned and highly executed robbery and the fact that it has happened for the second year in a row is extremely concerning.”

Queensland Oyster Growers Association president Professor Andrew Robson said 12,000 oysters were stolen the week before Christmas.

Prof Robson said if the stolen oysters were sold in poor quality, it had the potential to damage the reputation of the industry in Queensland.

He said it was also a blow to growers after crops were wiped out by QX disease two years ago.

“This was their first major (crop) back and that money that they would have helped them ramp up production to get back to where they were,” he said.

The removal of oysters from a commercial lease without permission is a crime under the Fisheries Act, with fines up to $77,400.

“The Queensland oyster industry is experiencing strong growth and incidents like these undermine our ability to provide Queenslanders with locally produced seafood, but we need the help of the public to put a stop to this criminal behaviour,” Prof Robson said.

Police are investigating two reports of alleged theft at two oyster businesses on North Stradbroke Island in November and December.

“On December 1, police were notified that a large quantity of product was reportedly stolen from a business at Dialba Passage between November 21 and November 30,” a police spokeswoman said.

“On December 11, police were notified that a quantity of product was reportedly stolen from a separate business at Deanbilla Bay on December 6.

“Two people in a boat were observed in the area around the time of this incident.”

Police are investigating whether the two incidents are linked and anyone with information is urged to contact them.