March 30, 2021
Parasite sparks Bluff oyster rahui
Ngāi Tahu and Biosecurity New Zealand have declared a rāhui and issued a Controlled Area Notice around part of the Foveaux Strait oyster fishery.
The measures create a ‘no-take’ zone around the area where three oysters were found to be infected with the Bonamia ostreae parasite.
Biosecurity New Zealand spokesperson Dr Catherine Duthie says urgent sampling and testing is being carried out in other parts of Foveaux Strait.
She says the 30 square kilometres Controlled Area located east of Saddle Point on Stewart Island hasn’t been fished for five years and the controls will not affect the availability of Bluff oysters.
The parasite does not affect food safety and fresh Bluff oysters are safe to eat.
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