Invercargill MP and National Party spokesperson for conservation Sarah Dowie said oyster fisheries in the deep south would be disappointed that Budget 2019 has cut funding for the biosecurity response to Bonamia ostreae, a parasite that can be fatal for flat oysters.

Bonamia ostreae was first detected in the Marlborough Sounds in 2015, and subsequently discovered in Stewart Island’s oyster farms in 2017.

The Ministry of Primary Industries issued notices of direction to affected Stewart Island farmers to remove flat oysters from marine farms in Big Glory Bay.

“Whilst in Opposition, Members of the current Government criticised the National Government’s handling of the response, despite National boosting biosecurity funding by $18.4 million, taking it to a record high of just under a quarter of a billion dollars," she said.

“This money went towards the establishment of an enhanced national surveillance plan for the parasite, with MPI surveying the Foveaux Strait flat oysters every three months, or monthly in particularly high risk areas.

“Our oyster fisheries are world famous for good reason, and funding to monitor them needs to be prioritised.”