Pambula oysters are highly regarded for their flavour. Photo: Tim Grey.
Australia’s largest producer of Sydney Rock Oysters has expanded its footprint with the purchase of an oyster farm at Pambula. Australian Oyster Coast (AOC) purchased the farm from established oyster farmer Peter Ferguson, who is moving interstate to be closer to family.
AOC CEO Devin Watson said the purchase deepened the company’s footprint on NSW’s Far South Coast.
“Pambula is a tightly held, highly productive estuary and a natural extension of our Far South Coast operations. This acquisition strengthens our finishing water, adds resilience to our supply base and supports the steady, disciplined growth we’re building across the business,” Mr Watson said.
Pambula is highly regarded for its oyster production, with plump, creamy oysters and high levels of brine thanks to a regular influx of fresh seawater into the estuary.
Devin Watson, CEO of Australian Oyster Coast (AOC). Photo: David Rogers.
AOC began in 2013 as a co-operative of oyster farmers, and has since become a commercial entity with heavy investment from ROC Partners. The brand is vertically integrated, running everything from spat (baby oyster) farming through to production of oysters, grading, sales, logistics and transport.
AOC sells its oysters under three brands: Appellation Oysters – which are hand selected for quality and typically sold to high-end restaurants – Oystersmith and Australian Oyster Coast. They source oysters from seven AOC-owned farms and from farms across 20 estuaries on the NSW coast.
Mr Watson said the purchase reflected strong operational fundamentals and confidence in the future of the Australian oyster industry.
“Our focus remains on lifting standards across farming, processing and supply, and on building a solid, sustainable operation that delivers quality oysters, strengthens provenance, and supports our people and farmers over the long term,” he said.
An aerial view of the Pambula oyster leases. Photo: Tim Grey.
Oyster farming is an important industry, with more than 230 oyster farming businesses in NSW, spread across 30 estuaries. Historically these farms have been individually owned and operated, however larger businesses like AOC are becoming more common in the industry.
The oyster farming industry is very sustainable, with oysters requiring no extra feed. These filter feeders clean the water as they feed, which improves the water quality of the estuaries they occupy. The industry has been heavily impacted by climate disasters such as fire, flooding and heavy rainfalls.
AOC’s purchase at Pambula is a further step in the ongoing growth of the business. Further announcements are planned later in the year as the business continues to invest in farming capacity by purchasing more farms.
Find out more about Australian Oyster Coast, including their brands Appelation Oysters and Oystersmith.
Find out more about the NSW Oyster industry.
