Bluff Oyster lovers can get their favourite treat as three of the eight Barnes Oysters boats were out dredging for the southern delicacy today in Foveaux Straight.

Barnes Wild Bluff Oysters Manager Graeme Wright said they had been registered as an essential service and were allowed to process and sell wild oysters under the current Alert Convid-19 lockdown; however they made the tough decision not to fish until today.

 “As we can keep our staff safe, keep the two-metre distance between them, and sell our oysters to supermarkets and some fish outlets up and down the country, we made the decision to send three boats out today, however we are still operating under very limited production due to health and safety issues with the current lockdown.”

“Our oysters are being air freighted to markets this afternoon,” Mr Wright said.

There are 12 fishing boats in the Bluff oyster fleet that can commercially harvest wild Bluff oysters in Foveaux Straight. Eight boats fish for Barnes Wild Bluff Oysters. Other companies in the oyster fleet include Direct Fish and Oysters, Ngai Tahu Seafood and Fowler Oysters.

“The weather has been a bit murky lately anyway so dredging for oysters will depend on three things, firstly and most important we have to keep our staff safe, second, we have to abide by the two-metre distance rule and third, it will depend on the market popularity of our Bluff oysters,” he said.

A pre-season survey showed that the oysters in Foveaux Straight were in a promising good condition, with no signs of the disease that has been evident other years.

“We are working slowly through the oyster season, keeping in mind the present restrictions – steady as we go,” Mr Wright said.

Direct Fish and Oysters, Ngai Tahu Seafood and Fowler Oysters could not be contacted for comment.

The oyster season opened on 1st March and finishes on the 31st August each year.