Project number: 2019-210
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $35,000.00
Principal Investigator: Len Stephens
Organisation: Oysters Australia Ltd
Project start/end date: 7 May 2020 - 29 Oct 2020
Contact:
FRDC
TAGS
Survey
Supply Chain
Marketing
Market Opportunities
Efficiency
SPECIES
Sydney Rock Oyster
Native Oyster
Pacific Oyster

Need

In response to the COVID19 crisis, Oysters Australia is investigating ways of supporting the industry, particularly through initiatives that could minimise the "gridlock" of oysters along the supply chain, and maintain sales of oysters, thereby preserving some income through the value chain.

Numerous forms of support for the seafood industry during the COVID19 crisis has been provided by Federal and State governments. Most of these involve individual businesses applying directly to the government. This application aims to design a national response that could be implemented using a combination of funds from Oysters Australia and governments. For example, the Commonwealth funds available for support of severely affected industries and regions.

Objectives

1. To prepare a brief to governments and industry describing the most useful activities that could be carried out to support improved oyster sales across the whole industry .
2. To use the above brief to encourage growers, wholesalers and retailers to implement the ideas immediately and to seek funds from as many sources as possible to support ongoing implementation.

Final report

Author: Len Stephens and Andy Myers
Final Report • 2021-01-01 • 7.53 MB
2019-210-DLD.pdf

Summary

This project was conducted by Oysters Australia (OA) to identify ways of supporting the industry during the COVID-19 pandemic. The research was initiated in April 2020 at a time when oyster sales across the nation had dropped 95%. Oysters Australia staff and subcontractors conducted the work during the period April to October 2020. The project began with a survey of growers which identified that in addition to acute loss of income, a major problem was developing as unsold oyster stock accumulated on farms. Seventy percent of farms reported having insufficient infrastructure to carry over stock.
An experienced seafood industry executive was engaged to consult with the post farm gate sector, in an attempt to find whole-of-supply chain solutions. It was recognized that all businesses in the sector were suffering, and that small signs of recovery, such as continuing sales by specialist retailers and direct sales from farm to consumer need to be supported.

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