Yorke PeninsulaStansbury
Oyster Bay is situated on the eastern coast of Gulf St Vincent. Captain Matthew Flinders mapped this coast line in 1802 but settlement was not until 1811.Oyster Bay was renamed Stansbury in 1873 by Governor Musgrave.
During the mid 1800’s as many as 20 oyster dredges worked in the area and eventually depleted stocks of wild oysters.
Mr Jim McIntyre, a pioneer of the South Australian oyster industry from the 1930’s began experimenting with local oysters at Stansbury in 1961. During the 60’s and early 70’s there were only two productive oyster farms in South Australia. One at Coffin Bay the other at Stansbury. (how things have changed)
By 1973 Jim began successfully using stick culture and hence his Stansbury oyster farm began to flourish. At this stage he was importing spat from Tasmania. By 1979 it was hard to get spat because of the growth of the oyster industry.
Jim died in 1985 leaving his interest to his family.
Revival of the Stansbury oyster industry began in 1994 with a small number of oysters being grown under trial conditions north of the jetty.
In 1996, 8 oyster leases, a total of 80 hectares were offered by the South Australian Aquaculture Unit and Department of Fisheries and taken up by M.Dee, I.Bishop, B.Tilbrook, R.Vince and T. Bishop. Today there are 2 full time oyster growers, those being Dalrymple Oysters and Southern Yorke Oysters and others, C-Fresh Oysters operated by Oyster Bay Shell Fish, Bluewater Oysters, Oystercatchers, McDonald Shellfish and Emery’s.
Oysters are grown using the intertidal method with various systems including BST, Aqua trays and pillow units.
Presently there are about 12million oysters in the pristine gulf waters surrounding Stansbury with most oysters being marketed for public consumption. At times oysters have been sold as ongrowns to meet industry demand.
Stansbury’s target market is predominantly the tourist market with few oysters ever reaching the wholesale market. Dalrymple Oysters are well established operating in several regions from their refrigerated mobile oyster van. Keep an eye open for their distinctive yellow and blue signs.
During holiday weekends throughout the oyster season Oyster Bay Shellfish bring their boat and fresh oysters to the foreshore beach and capture the local tourist trade with tastings and opening demonstrations. As well as providing oysters to local hotels, and businesses.
Other oyster farmers supply to restaurants and wineries across the state.
When you visit Yorke Peninsula look and ask for our fresh local oysters.
Port Vincent
Situated 196km from Adelaide Port Vincent is considered the premier resort town of Yorke Peninsula. Aquaculture is studied at the school and oyster production is a new Industry for the area. Twenty hectares of lease are in the Bay and production is on the increase.
Southern Yorke Oysters are the sole lease holders in the bay and also have lease holdings in Stansbury. The growth rates that have been achieved on these sites is exceptional and is assisting Southern Yorke Oysters by increasing their output in production.
Port Vincent oysters can be purchased through the Port Vincent Takeaway. The Ventnor Hotel has Port Vincent oysters on the menu, both located on the foreshore. Other markets are domestic within Australia with much focus on joining Stansbury as an export bay.
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