​​​​New technology has been implemented which will benefit Tasmania’s thriving oyster industry.

Oysters are a $43 million industry, important not only to the Tasmanian economy, but at a national level.

To help support the industry and ensure it is a continued success, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania (NRE Tas) Aquaculture Manager Eric Brain said the statewide sensor network was officially launched this week by the Minister for Primary Industries and Water. 

“Sensors are being installed over 30 growing areas and 50 harvest zones across the state and will deliver high-resolution, real-time salinity, temperature and tide data,” Mr Brain said.

“The project team have already installed most of the sensors and now working through a program of routine maintenance and conducting monitoring of the devices.”

Sensor installation at Little Swanport (L-R): Frances Huddlestone (Oysters Tasmania), Edward Forbes, Rachel Brown, Fran Palmer (NRE Tas, ShellMAP team) with local oyster grower Hayden Dyke.

The sensors will measure local environmental conditions to better inform management of shellfish areas and enable better regulatory management for food safety. 

The overall financial commitment to the sensor network is $1.25 million, with NRM South contributing $200,000 for the build of the ShellPOINT dashboard.

ShellPOINT is a portal displaying live feeds from all the sensors, information from the Tasmanian Government’s ShellMAP program, as well as rainfall and riverflow data. 

Additionally, a Tasmanian Shellfish Grower Handbook has also been launched which will provide further benefits to the oyster and shellfish industry,

The handbook includes information for oyster growers about management of their leases and the safe harvesting of oysters  in one document.  

These announcements demonstrate the benefits of the collaborative partnerships between Oysters Tasmania, the Tasmanian Seafood Industry Council, IMAS, NRM South and the Tasmanian Government.