Over the last ten years the South Australia (SA) Oyster Industry has nearly doubled its output, and now contributes nearly one hundred million dollars annually to the Gross State Product (GSP). Coincident with this growth has been an increasing sense within the industry that the mortality rates of juvenile oysters during the late autumn/winter period has been increasing and has now become a significant impediment to increasing production. This increase in mortality has been labelled South Australian Mortality Syndrome (SAMS).

In September 2012 a workshop was held for producers in Port Lincoln, with the intention of describing and evaluating the mortality being experienced across the SA growing zones. The input from a large number of producers was assessed and a report of this meeting produced for the South Australian Oyster Research Council (SAORC) and distributed to the industry.

Two very clear messages emerged from the presentations given by subject experts: the importance of normal, and the availability of information. A process of identifying the gaps and possible research to help overcome the deficits were identified for the development and appraisal of any future research. These themes were:

1. Better understanding of the normal oyster
2. The nutritional requirements of SA Oysters
3. Information management
4. Information extension

Ensuring that producers are aware of these themes will help to develop understanding of the decisions that are made in funding research, and ensure the successful extension and integration of research findings into the industry.