10 February 2025: In a devastating blow to Queensland’s oyster industry, a well-coordinated theft has wiped out the entire harvest of a new grower, Bulimba Oyster Company, in Deanbilla Bay. The theft involved 60 BST baskets containing mature stock – approximately 600 dozen oysters valued at $12,000. The incident has once again highlighted a brazen disregard for the livelihood of Queensland oyster farmers.
This year’s theft has not only stripped Kieron Gait, one of the seven growers behind Bulimba Oyster Company, of their second-ever harvest but has also jeopardised their contracts with Brisbane restaurants and individual buyers, casting a shadow over the reliability of Queensland’s oyster supply chain.
The stolen baskets also contained Queensland Sunshine oyster spat, critical for the industry’s future, some of which were dumped into the water, while others remain missing.
Kieron Gait and their investors, who have only been in the industry for two years, were relying on this harvest to establish themselves in the competitive oyster market. “This was not just a financial loss – it’s a crushing blow to our morale and our ability to move forward as a new producer,” said Gait.
Professor Andrew Robson, President of the Queensland Oyster Growers Association and chair of the Queensland Oyster Industry Network, said it was extremely concerning that this was the third year the area has experienced this kind of theft.
“These thefts are devastating. For new growers like Bulimba Oyster Company, this could mean the difference between staying in the industry or closing down altogether. The theft of stock, spat, and infrastructure undermines the years of dedication that growers put into producing premium oysters for Queenslanders – which take three years before they can be harvested,” said Robson.
“This is the third year in a row that we’ve seen a well-organised heist of this scale. The Queensland oyster industry is growing, but thefts like these put its future at risk.
Importantly, the Bulimba Oyster Company was one of several local farms participating in a Department of Primary Industries aquaculture research project that is assessing the benefits of farming a new species of oyster – the Queensland Sunshine Oyster. This work is funded jointly by the Queensland Government and the Federal Fisheries Research and Development Corporation. Over the past six months the Bulimba Oyster Company has been cultivating some of these precious new spat as part of groundbreaking research to develop an oyster that is resistant to the deadly QX disease, which has the potential to devastate entire crops.
“Some of these research oysters were also stolen, while smaller oysters were found strewn across the lease, adding to the damage left behind”, said Gait.
“This theft not only disrupts Bulimba Oyster Company’s role in this critical project but also threatens the broader initiative to safeguard the Queensland oyster industry from devastating diseases.”
Removing oysters from commercial leases without permission is a crime under Section 87 of the Fisheries Act 1994, and carries severe penalties.
“If you see suspicious activity around commercial oyster leases, such as unfamiliar boats or jet skis removing oyster bags, or notice oysters being sold through unusual channels at discounted prices, please report it to police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000,” said Robson.
Ends.
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