Bag or Size Limit for Oysters in Moreton Bay?

[Darren J]

Hi,
Just wondering if anyone is aware of take or size limit for the oysters found around the rocky bay foreshores? Also does anyone know the exact type of oyster these are?

The only mention in the guidelines (with a limit) is for a Blacklip Pearl Oyster, but as best I can determine, these are not the typical bay oysters you find. All other oysters types appear to have no limit.

If anyone can confirm would be much appreciated.

Cheers.

[bondy99]

As far as I am aware of, if its an oyster lease its unlawful but anything else is deemed to be crown land, oysters need to be consumed on the spot and not taken home.

That was in QLD's DPI Fisheries site some time ago.

If they are large oysters, they could be Pacific gigas...if they are small then they could be "Sydney rock oyster"

I could do with 10 dozen wild oysters.

Bondy

[Darren J]

As far as I am aware of, if its an oyster lease its unlawful but anything else is deemed to be crown land, oysters need to be consumed on the spot and not taken home.

That was in QLD's DPI Fisheries site some time ago.

If they are large oysters, they could be Pacific gigas...if they are small then they could be "Sydney rock oyster"

I could do with 10 dozen wild oysters.

Bondy

Not in oyster leases, just general rocky areas. They are not large, and I would think they were closest to Sydeny Rock Oysters.

"Rock oyster" seems to have been the nearest I could find as to they type, but I am unsure.

If anyone can clarify on the "consume on the spot" would be appreciated. For all the searching I ahem done, I did not come across that.
As far as Crown Land, the areas I am thinking are only accessible at low tide, and are not attached to the mainland.

Cheers.

[Lucky_Phill]

I have made enquiries with DAFF ( Fisheries ) and hopefully will get an answer in the next day or two.

The Oysters you are talking about are " Rock Oysters ". They are also farmed in Moreton Bay.


Cheers LP

[Crunchy]

Wait for LP DAFF answer but I always thought "consume on the spot' was the only option as well.

[Crunchy]

From DAFF Website

"It's important to remember that taking oysters from or interfering with aquaculture infrastructure and licensed oyster grounds is illegal," he said.

"A person may only consume oysters on the spot where taken in a public oyster reserve or on unlicensed oyster grounds.
"Stealing oysters from licensed areas or interfering with aquaculture infrastructure is a serious offence and fines of up to $55,000 or $1100 on-the-spot apply.

[Just_chips]

If anyone can clarify on the "consume on the spot" would be appreciated.

I'm not sure what you're looking to clarify. To me it reads that any oyster harvested in the location must be eaten there, not collected and removed to be 'consumed' elsewhere.

Thinking of stocking up for Chrissy?

[Darren J]

From DAFF Website

"It's important to remember that taking oysters from or interfering with aquaculture infrastructure and licensed oyster grounds is illegal," he said.

"A person may only consume oysters on the spot where taken in a public oyster reserve or on unlicensed oyster grounds.
"Stealing oysters from licensed areas or interfering with aquaculture infrastructure is a serious offence and fines of up to $55,000 or $1100 on-the-spot apply.

Just to clarify, this is definitely not from commercial leases. I wonder what is meant by "public oyster reserve or unlicensed grounds"? Does that mean anywhere other than a commercial lease?

I just found a similar article from there saying a similar thing, although it was generally about other shellfish/molluscs which do have clear take limits. From the DPI fishing size and bag limits.....

Blacklip Pearl Oyster

9 min

No Limit

Molluscs (any - e.g. pipis, freshwater mussels, excluding oysters )

no limit

50

There is nothing else in the notes etc relating to the guidelines. I would think that if they exclude oysters under molluscs, then there is no other restrictions on size or take. With regards to Blacklip Pearl Oyster, clearly there is a "take" policy allowed, they are listed as no limit.

There are a number of closed areas listed on the Foreshores for taking nay molluscs etc (which would include oysters).

[Darren J]

I'm not sure what you're looking to clarify. To me it reads that any oyster harvested in the location must be eaten there, not collected and removed to be 'consumed' elsewhere.

Thinking of stocking up for Chrissy?

I understand what consume on the spot means (literally), I was looking for clarification of where this information was sourced from, as it does not appear to be in any DPI guidelines I can find.

[Triple]

Edit - page 475 of fisheries regulation act 2008

			a person taking or possessing the oysterunless— (a) the person eats the oyster where theperson took it; or (b) the oyster has been grown under anauthority or a development approvalfor prescribed aquaculturedevelopment; or (c) the person takes the oyster for tradeor commerce under a licence onwhich is written the fishery symbol‘O’; or (d) possesses the oyster taken underparagraph (c)

Off their facebook page -
Fisheries Queensland

True or false? It is legal to collect oysters from public oyster reserves and take them home or to camp provided they are within the size and possession limit requirements. Check back tomorrow for the answer.
The correct answer is false. The taking of oysters from any oyster ground is prohibited. However, in public oyster reserves or on unlicensed oyster grounds, oysters can be collected and consumed on the spot. For those who prefer their oysters cooked, you will need to purchase oysters from a fish retailer.

and this is in the recreational fishing guide-
taking oysters from any oyster ground; however,
a person may consume oysters on the spot wheretaken in any public oyster reserve or on unlicensed oyster grounds

[Fisheries Queensland]

Hi Darren

Oysters found in Moreton Bay are the native Sydney rock oysters. Under the Fisheries Regulation 2008 a person may not take or possess an oyster unless the person eats the oyster where the person took it. There is no size limit for Sydney rock oysters.

There are a number of approved aquaculture areas in Moreton Bay where Sydney rock oysters are farmed. A person must not take oysters from an approved aquaculture area.

It is advisable to avoid the collection and eating of wild oysters from waterways which may be contaminated by industrial and/or domestic wastes. Waterways with limited tidal flushing are of particular risk as contaminants may accumulate and become concentrated in the wild oysters.

Commercial oyster farming is managed under strict environmental guidelines designed to ensure that oysters are only grown in areas with appropriate water quality. Given that there is always a risk when someone eats raw food without adequate safeguards, purchasing commercial oysters harvested from a licensed area is recommended.

[Darren J]

Thanks to everybody that replied and helped clarify. It appears the legislation is clear, consume where taken otherwise, no take.

It was a little disappointing to find that the information is not readily available in the size/bag guidelines or other basic supporting information on the main DAFF page re restrictions and regulations. It seems it is tucked away within the fisheries regulation act page 475 (not something that I think people regularly refer to in good faith for regulations), or a Q&A on a Facebook page (which I have no account for).

So I guess this reinforces the requirement for all of us to ask if your not 100% sure on any issue or regulation.

Thanks again to those that replied.

Cheers.