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In short:
Oyster growers in Port Stephens have been forced to make many changes to survive a QX outbreak.
Farmers and industry representatives would like to see more funding for research into the disease.
What's next?
The local oyster industry will continue to build resilience by cultivating different species and improving disaster preparedness.
Farmers recovering from the impact of QX disease in one of the most productive oyster-growing estuaries in New South Wales are uncertain if the industry can withstand future outbreaks.
QX is a seasonally occurring disease of the Sydney Rock Oyster species — it does not impact human health but kills oysters.
The disease devastated Port Stephens oyster growers in 2022.
"Our initial figures were that a quarter of our industry had ceased working," third-generation oyster farmer Matt Burgoyne said.
"Not necessarily turned their farms in, because that brings some challenges too, but had stopped growing oysters in a commercial way."
State government figures show the Port Stephens oyster industry was worth $10 million in 2019/20, but that figure dropped to about $6.9 million in 2022/23.
Four businesses in the region have officially closed, with many that remain forced to lay off staff and reduce output.
Business model changes
The Richmond River oysters, which are a new breed of rock oysters that appear to be more resilient to QX disease, are now being trialled on farms.
Like Sydney Rock, they grow for about three years before being ready for market.
Meanwhile, the Pacific Oyster is bringing in cashflow to farmers more quickly.
"The [Pacific Oyster] have a shorter turnaround of 12 months," Mr Burgoyne said.
"We saw that really as the only way that we could start to generate income and keep the farm going."
The Pacific Oyster is an introduced species that is not impacted by QX but is susceptible to the Pacific Oyster Mortality Syndrome, another deadly oyster disease.
The species saved Alex Watt's business in Karuah.
He also started growing juvenile oysters south in the Shoalhaven region, as well as further north on the Mid North Coast.
"We've spread the risk. So, if we have a wipe out in one, we've got others to turn to," Mr Watt said.
Cost of oysters impacted
Justin Welsh is the CEO of East 33, a major oyster producer and supplier in NSW.
He said oyster demand traditionally outstripped supply, but that had been exacerbated due to the Port Stephens outbreak.
Mr Welsh said the cost of oysters for consumers had gone up, however, it should start to balance out as the industry recovers.
"Sydney Rock Oysters are only really produced in Australia and a small volume in New Zealand," Mr Welsh said.
"So, any time we see a decline in supply it means there will be a price impact,"
While Pacific Oysters are filling the short-term gap, Mr Welsh does not expect them to be a long-term solution.
"Like your wines, some people prefer a red over a white, some people prefer a rock oyster to a Pacific," he said.
"So, sometimes it's not possible and consumers will wait for the rock oysters to be available again."
Funding support
The NSW government waived farmers' levy fees for 2023 and 2024 after QX broke out.
Many growers also utilised natural disaster grants that were available at the time.
Andy Myers from NSW Farmers said there was no "direct" financial support to deal with QX.
"There's been a bit more investment into research around QX, which was really lacking," he said.
"But in terms of that financial support, there's been very little."
The government said it managed financial support for an outbreak within its overall budget and that it has supported Port Stephens more than any other QX-impacted estuary in the state.
Many growers would like to see more funding for research.
"QX is not a new parasite, it's been around since the 50s and it's devastated estuaries like the Georges River and the Hawkesbury River," Mr Burgoyne said.
"We still don't really understand it so we need to get some key learnings."
Looking to the future
Surveillance testing results show the latest QX season in Port Stephens has been much milder than the past two.
Ben Rampano is the acting manager of aquatic biosecurity programs for the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development.
He said determining the exact timing of QX activity in different estuaries was helping farmers continue to cultivate.
"Window farming comes from the understanding of when QX is likely to cause impacts each year," Mr Rampano said.
"[Oyster farmers] won't deploy oysters to high-risk areas during that window of activity."
The state government runs a program, which seeks to breed Sydney Rock Oysters that grow quicker and are more resilient to QX disease.
Recent testing results found the average survival rate of juvenile oysters following one exposure to QX was 80 per cent.
Improved disaster preparedness for the industry across NSW continues to be front of mind.
"I don't think anyone ever thought that QX was even a threat here in Port Stephens," Mr Burgoyne said.
"If we had our time again disease preparedness would be one of our key focuses."
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