Download FAR 2016/67 A survey of the Foveaux Strait oyster (Ostrea chilensis) population (OYU 5) in commercial fishery areas and the status of bonamia (Bonamia exitiosa) in February 2016

The 2016 Foveaux Strait survey found the recruit-sized, pre-recruit and small oyster populations increased from 2015. Recruit-sized oysters in core strata increased from 351.4 million oysters in 2015 (CV 8%) to 385.2 million oysters in 2016 (CV 11%). Bonamia infection levels decreased markedly in 2016. Summer mortality was much lower, 16.2 million recruit-sized oysters (4.2% of the population), than in 2015 (13.1%). The declining trend in the oyster population since 2012 has levelled off in 2016. Any rebuilding of the recruit-sized population is likely to be slow.