Caroline and Kel Henry have been
farming oysters in the pristine waters of Wonboyn Lake on the state’s Sapphire Coast for 29 years. After city life got too hectic for them, Caroline, a former police officer, and Kel, who grew up on a dairy farm, decided to make a sea change – and now she is one of the most prominent voices in the oyster industry.
“I wanted to make sure the industry was what it should be. I didn’t want to sit back and heckle about what was going wrong; I wanted to be hands-on,” says Caroline.
As chair of NSW Farmers’ Oyster Committee and an experienced farmer, Caroline has amassed a treasure trove of information about the science and innovation behind oyster farming, plus where the industry is lacking and how it can be improved.
Thieves are a major headache for farmers. “Anyone can come on our land, so it makes it difficult. We need to be more vigilant and look after each other,” says Caroline.
Taking even one of these Sydney rock oysters will affect the livelihood of an oyster farmer. Leave this delicious treats where they are! Photo by: Roger Rosentreter.
Many thieves are opportunistic and blasé, believing farmers won’t miss a few oysters. But far from it, says Caroline.
“It takes three to four years for an oyster to grow, and thieves are not skilled enough to know when they are ready for human consumption.” – Caroline Henry
“They aren’t aware of our quality assurance program, whether the water has been tested, and in the act of stealing they will often damage the baskets, meaning we have to update infrastructure as well as cop the loss.”
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Caroline even tells of a local councillor who shared the same sentiment as thieves, claiming farmers couldn’t possibly miss a few oysters.
But it is not all doom and gloom for the industry. Caroline is jubilant about the pace at which oyster farming is continuing to move forward, with sales, innovation, sustainability and professionalism all increasing in the last few years.
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And the trend towards farmers using single-seed baskets rather than the age-old stick method has been a significant shift for the industry, with Wonboyn oyster farmers the first to try the floating baskets.
Checking oyster bags, which is a more ecologically sustainable way of oyster farming than the traditional stick method. Photo by: Roger Rosentreter.
“It means we can farm the way we want because the baskets move with the tide and don’t damage seagrasses. This is healthier for the whole ecosystem.”
“Because we are leaseholders, we need to look after the river for everyone else, not just ourselves.” – Caroline Henry
She believes there is much potential for the industry to grow – making it an exciting time to be a NSW oyster farmer.
Caroline’s top tips for preventing oyster theft
- Know your neighbours so you can look out for each other’s oyster baskets.
- Signs are an effective deterrent for thieves as well as a good way to educate the public.
- Provide a business card with any oyster sales so it is clear where they have come from.
- Have a good rapport with your seafood wholesalers. This way, they will be alert to any suspicious activity.