Oyster farmers across New South Wales are hoping that a mysterious disease that wiped out stock at a creek north of Sydney has been successfully contained.
Testing by the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) has confirmed a patch of shellfish that died in the Hawkesbury River were infected with Pacific Oyster Mortality Syndrome (POMS), which is not dangerous to humans.
Local farmers sent oysters for testing when they first began dying and immediately imposed restrictions on oyster movements within the Hawkesbury.
DPI aquaculture manager Ian Lyall on Thursday stressed that POMS posed no risk to human health, nor to Sydney rock oysters or native flat oysters.
“Pacific Oyster Mortality Syndrome only affects Pacific oysters,” Mr Lyall said.
