The NSW Oyster Industry: A Risk Indicator of Sustainable Coastal Policy and Practice

Abstract

Estuaries are the 'door mat' of human activity on land. They are also highly valued by the community. The New South Wales (NSW) oyster industry is Australia's oldest farming enterprise, dating back to the pre-European settlement era and as a consequence has social and cultural significance. Oyster farmers have developed generations of understanding and professional and intimate observation of the subtleties and frailties of NSW estuaries, cultivating their shells on a daily basis. The key motivation for this study is that the NSW oyster industry is a risk indicator of sustainable coastal catchment policy and practice. The studies are based on the overarching hypothesis that the economic, social, cultural, human health and environmental sustainability objectives of the NSW oyster industry require a historically- and scientifically-based risk analysis framework for selecting, managing and cultivating oyster farming areas. A review identified that it was vulnerable because of the lack of protection and planning for oyster growing areas. The aim of this thesis is to demonstrate that policies based on a risk analysis framework optimise outcomes for strategic management of the NSW oyster industry where risk is defined in terms of the effect of uncertainties on the industry's economic, social, cultural, human health and environmental sustainability objectives.

The results demonstrate that a risk-based framework is effective in developing policy in strategic management of the NSW oyster industry and reducing uncertainty for the industry's economic, social, cultural, human health and environmental sustainability objectives. New approaches to improving profitability and durability and reducing risk to the NSW oyster industry objectives have been implemented as policy outcomes and industry practices as a result of this approach. Research and governance issues and the establishment of a management framework that fosters strategic policy development based on sound science using risk analysis and priority setting are all important steps on the ladder of estuarine ecosystem conservation and recovery. The policy outcomes that have been implemented in NSW as a result of a risk-based strategic approach are practical, tactical and goal oriented with the oyster industry recognised up-front in land use planning to address the consequences of potential impacts from ongoing rapid coastal urbanisation. A key element is the NSW Oyster Industry Sustainable Aquaculture Strategy. Show more