Despite a long history of oyster aquaculture in NSW dating to the 1870's, production has fallen since 1980. While advances in environmental remediation and protection were achieved via the Oyster Industry Sustainable Aquaculture Strategy, for reasons highlighted in the Background, industry production and profitability continues to stumble.
Industry and enterprise level reform is needed including structural change, improved risk management and business planning and product and process innovation. Such renewal will be best achieved if underpinned by a coordinated response by industry, guided by a strategic planning process. The development of a Strategy represents an important first step in this process.
The need is to improve the productivity, profitability and growth of the industry through the creation of a concise Strategy. This will identify agreed strategic priorities for the industry over the next five years and articulate key actions required. These will reflect impediments to improved performance and emerging opportunities. The Strategy will build on the strengths and experience of industry members and position the industry as profitable, resilient, innovative, and forward looking.
The development of a Strategy will be informed, but not constrained, by a number of existing plans and policies (including ARAC RD&E Strategic Plan 2012-2017, Oysters Australia Business Plan 2009-2014, DPI Fisheries Strategic Plan 2012-2015 and the NSW Oyster Industry Sustainable Aquaculture Strategy); previous oyster industry plans reviews ; the broad legislative context within which the industry operates; and the vision statements of NSW Farmers Association, Australia's Oyster Coast, Sapphire Coast Oysters and other groups like the Manning River Oyster growers Association, Broken Bay Oyster Association and OceanWatch.
While not part of the current application, the Strategy will form the basis of an operational/implementation plan that will underpin reform and will inform regulatory reform, and future research and capacity building needs. The Strategy will be of use to ARAC, the NSW Shellfish Committee, Oysters Australia and NSW industry associations in informing industry needs, including funding.