An oyster farmer has lost $350,000 worth of oysters, stolen from his Scotts creek leases just months out from his busiest selling season.
“We’re not suggesting that anyone should confront or accuse anyone, but due to the quantity and large scale of the theft we believe it would need to be someone with the ability to shift the livestock,” the business said in their Facebook post asking for help from the industry.
Scotts Creek splits off the Manning River and divides Oxley and Mitchells Islands as it winds down to the river’s south channel, a stretch popular with recreational anglers chasing dusky flathead, surf bream and southern black bream. The area is also home to a string of commercial oyster fisheries, many of which were smashed by flooding last year and are still rebuilding.
Ryan Freeman runs Latitude 31 Oysters, with leases on Scotts Creek at Oxley Island, near Croki, as well as in the Karuah River and Port Stephens region.
Mr Freeman told ABC News he discovered the theft on Tuesday morning when he went to check on his stock ahead of the Christmas rush.
“We noticed our floating gear and tumblers were missing,” he said.
Police were told 320 aquaculture oyster bags containing 400,000 juvenile oysters had been stolen from the Oxley Island property. Officers from Manning/Great Lakes Police District put the value of the stolen oysters at approximately $350,000, but Mr Freeman said the true cost, including lost equipment, was closer to $400,000.
He said the timing could not have been worse, with the business still recovering from last year’s floods.
“It’s going to have a massive impact, we’re only recovering from the floods last year,” he said.
About 80 per cent of the stolen stock had been earmarked for sale at Christmas, according to Mr Freeman.
“We probably get through 35 to 40,000 dozen at Christmas time,” he said.
“That’s why the thieves would have targeted them because they’re not going to be far off, they’re going to be able to sell them this Christmas.”
Mr Freeman said there was not enough time left to source replacement stock before the holiday season.
A crime scene has been established at the property and police inquiries are continuing. Anyone with information – including CCTV or dashcam footage – is urged to contact Manning/Great Lakes Police District or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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