Oysters
Pacific Oysters (Crassostrea gigas)
Pacific oysters are the most widely grown oysters in the world. Pacific oysters were first introduced to Tasmania from Japan in the 1970s and are now widely grown in Tasmania and South Australia.
Pacific oysters are a hardy species with fast growth and high reproductive rates. This has allowed them to establish dense populations in some areas, often displacing native inter-tidal species. Although Pacific oysters are the basis of an important aquaculture industry in Port Stephens, they have caused significant problems for oyster farmers who culture native Sydney rock oysters.
The main difference between the Tasmanian and the South Australian Pacific Oysters is that, in South Australia, the oysters are cultivated in plastic baskets attached to adjustable lines, which make them inter-tidal. The Tasmanian Pacific Oysters are mainly grown in large cages, suspended from the bottom, which make them sub-tidal.
The major disadvantage of the Pacific Oyster is that they have only half the shelf life of a Sydney Rock Oyster.
