Seafood industry shines at “Love Seafood” Port Stephens Festival
9 Aug 2017
Local oysters will be featured alongside a range of other locally produced seafood at this years’ “Love Seafood Love Port Stephens” festival this month.
The month-long festival will feature a range of events including cooking demonstrations, educational talks and master classes with a spotlight on local seafood from commercial fishers and the aquaculture industry.
Department of Primary Industries’ (DPI) Deputy Director General Fisheries, Dr Geoff Allan, said the festival is a great opportunity to showcase the strength of the fisheries industries in Port Stephens.
“As part of the festival, DPI will also be opening our doors at our Port Stephens Fisheries Institute and the community are invited to take a look and learn about our cutting edge research,” Dr Allan said.
“We have some of the best and brightest people working for DPI including scientists’ whose work has been ranked in the top 1 per cent of world research in various fields.
“A range of aquaculture research, aquatic ecosytems, commercial and recreational fishing, Biosecurity, Fisheries Compliance, marine park work is carried out at our Taylors Beach site.
“The institute has been operating for over 40 years developing research projects to set the standard for the oyster industry in Australia, and we are delighted to be sponsoring this festival for the second year.”
Commercial harvest of local Whiting, Blue Swimmer Crabs, Snapper and Urchins will also feature on the menu with strong support for the event from the Newcastle Fishermen’s Co-operative.
“Port Stephens has 46 oyster businesses as well as 10 other aquaculture businesses producing a variety of top quality seafood,” Dr Allan said.
“Port Stephens Sydney Rock Oysters, farmed Barramundi Yabbies and Yellowtail Kingfish will be on the menu during the month of August.”
On Saturday 12 August visitors to the festival will have the opportunity to learn all about the local oyster industry, meet the local producers, participate in the celebrity oyster shucking competition as well as purchase oysters straight from the farmer.
On August 26 and 27 DPI will support the Fish and Fun Expo on the waterfront with Port Stephens Great Lakes Marine Park and Educational Recreational Fishing displays.
The festival program is available at Port Stephens Tourism website.
Media contact: Romina Barbagallo (02) 6391 3686
