Mick and Wendy are heartily sick and tired of losing oysters through theft. They had over $1,200 worth of oysters stolen last week and say the problem is widespread.

“It’s frustrating and disappointing,” Wendy said. “Losses of this size would have an impact on any local business.”

As they alluded to in their Letter to the Editor, the days where oyster thieves got off lightly for this type of crime are definitely over. In March a 10 month jail term was handed down in a case involving the theft of six dozen oysters.

Police found the oysters in a sports bags carried by a 44 year old Forster man. He received an eight-month non-parole period for unlawfully entering enclosed lands by Wallis Lake and larceny to the value of less than $2000.

Oyster Farmers Association representatives have applauded the message the sentence has sent to would-be thieves who seek to profit from the black market.

“There has to be a deterrent,” Wendy Crozier said.

Oyster thefts have an impact on farmers, their families and ultimately the consumer. Local oyster farmers are hoping the severity of the sentence will also deter thieves operating in and around the Camden Haven River.

“Prising an oyster off the rocks is one thing, but people need to realise that taking oysters from a lease is theft,” Wendy pointed out.

Jason Armstrong from Armstrong Oysters is also unhappy about the volume of oysters stolen from local leases. He says the successful Wallis Lakes prosecution may lead to increased surveillance on local leases.

“Our leases are clearly sign-posted,” Jason said. “Anyone we catch stealing oysters will face prosecution. It’s a simple as that.”

There have been reports of people offering bags of oysters to holiday-makers in local camping grounds and caravan parks. Laurieton police encourage anyone who witnesses unlawful seafood sales to report the incident or to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

The black market oyster trade was in the spotlight during the Christmas/New Year holiday period as authorities tried to clamp down on illegal seafood sales. The fine for oyster theft in NSW has increased to a maximum of $275,000.

Industry & Investment NSW (I&I NSW) launched ‘Operation Trident’ as an on-going compliance operation designed to detect and deter oyster theft and protect consumers against potentially unsafe black market produce.

“Oysters sold under the table haven’t undergone the usual stringent food safety tests or purification procedures,” said I&I NSW Director Fisheries Compliance, Glenn Tritton. “Don’t risk it - they could end up making you very sick.”