The Committee

The Peak Oyster Advisory Group (POAG) is the key oyster industry consultative body for issues relating to the management and future development of the NSW oyster industry. It comprises representatives from the oyster industry nominated by the NSW Farmers’ Association (Oyster Section) and representatives from NSW Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI), the NSW Food Authority (NSWFA) and other relevant NSW Government agencies. POAG meets three times per year and is a non-statutory committee (unpaid members) with an independent Chair. The secretariat of POAG is provided by NSW DPI.

Notes from the latest POAG meeting held on 19 May 2011.

Key items on the POAG agenda included:

1. Waste discharge from vessels - NSW Maritime provided POAG with an overview of the initiatives undertaken by NSW Maritime concerning the discharge and management of waste from vessels in NSW waterways.  They include; provision of funding for the establishment of boat pump-out facilities and the take up of this initiative by local councils; educational material and its dissemination; “No Discharge Zones” in and around aquaculture areas; and NSW Maritime compliance activities.  POAG and NSW Maritime agreed to work together regarding the wording of educational material and the promotion of the NSW Waterways initiatives.
2. Research into the interaction between oyster cultivation activities and seagrass communities - NSW DPI discussed a preliminary research proposal to be undertaken with other key stakeholders.  POAG gave in principal support to the proposal.  NSW Government initiatives to further protect marine vegetation in NSW were also discussed, including amendments to the Fisheries Management (General) Regulation (2010) to protect marine vegetation on Crown Land below the astronomical high tide from the effects of grazing and trampling by farm stock.   
3. Review of NSW Oyster Industry Sustainable Aquaculture Strategy (OISAS) - OISAS is due for statutory review in 2011.  Items nominated by industry for inclusion in the review were discussed, these included; estuary entrance management; on-site sewage management; the inclusion of land base leases in OISAS; climate change adaption; lease signage; and raft best practice guidelines.   POAG also discussed possible improvements to the local government Development Application (DA) referral process under the State Environmental Planning Policy No. 62 for developments that may affect OISAS Priority Oyster Aquaculture Areas.
4. State Aquaculture Steering Committee (SASC) meetings held on 29 November 2010 and 16 February 2011 - Issues relevant to the NSW oyster industry included; support for the development of a Marine Waters Sustainable Aquaculture Strategy for the development of an off-shore finfish and shellfish industry strategy; support for the Healthy Estuaries Healthy Oysters - On-Site Sewage Management System (OSMS) project; and the formation of an Interagency Working Group to oversee the review of OISAS 2011 comprising NSW DPI, NSW Maritime, Department of Planning and Infrastructure, Department of Environment Climate Change and Water, Land and Property Management Authority and NSW Food Authority.
5. Healthy Estuaries for Healthy Oysters project - This project will assist in the education of local Councils in the management of on-site sewage management systems in each oyster farming estuary in NSW.  The project, which will also promote and facilitate partnerships between Councils, the oyster industry and Catchment Management Authorities, was commended by POAG.
6. Oyster Lease Clean-up Project - Following on from previous clean-up activities NSW DPI reported that a further 26 hectares of derelict lease area has been remediated in Port Stephens Great Lakes Marine Park.  POAG supported the circumstances in which the statutory Aquaculture Lease Security Bond would be accessed to recover costs for the clean-up activities.
7. Emergency aquatic animal disease response preparedness - DPI Biosecurity provided POAG with a presentation regarding proposed disease preparedness workshops to be delivered to the NSW oyster industry, which received POAG support.  An update was also given on the progress in dealing with Pacific Oyster Mortality Syndrome and research into oyster Winter Mortality Disease.
8. Oyster lease compliance - DPI Compliance reported on surveillance and prosecutions actions relating to “Operation Trident”.  “Operation Trident” is an ongoing initiative between DPI Compliance and NSW Police targeting theft from oyster leases. DPI Compliance raised the issue lack of flexibility in the lease compliance inspection protocol to account for minor lease maintenance issues.  POAG agreed to the formation of a working group to review oyster aquaculture lease inspection procedures.
9. NSW Food Authority Report - NSW FA provided a briefing to POAG concerning; the progress on reviews of oyster harvest area classification; an update on UTAS Storage Temperature Project; the National Biotoxin Testing Initiative; and Local Shellfish Program workshop to advise industry members of recent regulatory changes. The outcomes of the annual meeting of the national Australian Shellfish Quality Assurance Advisory Committee which met 12-14 October 2010 at Port Lincoln were also discussed.
10. Oyster Industry Field Days 2011 - Oyster Industry Field Days are scheduled for 20 September 2011 at Port Macquarie and 22 September 2011 at Batemans Bay and will be hosted by NSW Farmers’ Association in cooperation with OceanWatch and NSW DPI.