Bluff oysters crack credit crunch
04 Mar 2009
Times might be tough on the economic front but Bluff oyster lovers showed no restraint when the official season opened in New Zealand this weekend.
Bluff oysters, from the rich fishing grounds of Foveaux Strait off the bottom of the South Island, are a prized delicacy harvested from March to August, and the start of the season is much anticipated by restaurants and markets throughout New Zealand.
Hot off the ice
Within hours of the first catch hitting markets around the country, sales were brisk and the Southland fishing industry said there was no evidence of the recession having any affect on demand.
In Christchurch, the oysters hardly had time to cool on ice before they were snapped up at the City Seafood market. Manager Ange Leonard said 140 dozen Bluff oysters went on sale at 2.00pm on opening day and 80 dozen had sold within 90 minutes.
Cheaper than last year
A dozen oysters of mixed sizes were selling for between NZ$20-23 - cheaper than last year when demand was high, and prices reached nearly NZ$30 per dozen.
"Despite the recession, I think all of the Bluff oyster people will still be in to enjoy them. We are keeping the price reasonable because we just want to look after people's needs and requirements this year," Leonard said.
Restaurant demand
Renowned chef and restaurant owner Simon Gault said all his high-end North Island restaurants would be selling a dozen Bluff oysters for NZ$35 - a NZ$5 per dozen drop from last year because of the economy.
He said he was passionate about the product and wanted as many people experiencing the oysters as possible. Gault, who was scheduled to get his first shipment of 50 dozen Bluff oysters on Monday (March 2), said he expected them to sell out in 15 minutes.
Bumper season
Scientists are also rating this year’s catch as possibly the largest registered in the last five years.
There has been a resurgence of the Bluff oyster - the South Pacific's most expensive - after a struggle with shellfish parasite bonamia, which wiped out about one billion of the molluscs between 2000 and 2003.
Barnes Oysters the New Zealand company supplied by six of the 11 Bluff oyster boats said it was expected that this season’s specimens would also be plumper than in previous years.
"It's early days, but I think the expectation from a survey completed by NIWA (National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research) is the oysters should be fatter and plumper this year, hopefully," said Barnes managing director Graeme Wright.
Limit on the catch
Bluff fishermen have voluntarily limited the catch for the past five seasons to 7.5 million, half the allowable total and will continue to do so this season to allow oyster beds to continue rebuilding.
Bluff oysters are currently only sold to the domestic market but it is thought a NIWA survey may suggest that the annual catch be increased to 10 million to improve export potential.
"Ode to the Oyster"
The annual Bluff Oyster and Food Festival will be held in Invercargill on 23 May 2009 opening with an "Ode to the Oyster" ceremony.
The festival also includes oyster opening competitions, an oyster sack parade, fresh seafood and fine wines and southern entertainment.
The 2009 oyster season ends on 31 August.
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