Early Oystering:
Large scale European gathering of oysters in NSW began north of Sydney in the late 1700s but by the 1870s this unregulated gathering had seen a serious decline in the natural reefs & banks.
A Royal Commission was appointed in 1876 to investigate methods of utilising, improving & maintaining natural oyster beds; of cultivating oysters; & amending & consolidating laws regulating the fishery. Among other things, the Commission concluded that that the industry was of equal importance to any other commodity business, & regulations were introduced to protect beds.
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Legislation controlling the gathering of oysters was introduced in NSW in the early 1880s. This laid the foundation for development of a commercial industry, with organised cultivation for human consumption beginning around this time. Sticks, stones & shells were set out to catch & grow oysters in the intertidal zone, supplementing those occurring naturally. Thus oyster farming became Australia’s first aquaculture industry.
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