“It’s been a bit of a roller coaster of events,” Brandon Armstrong from Armstrong Oysters said. 

Three locations across the Camden Haven including Stingray Creek, Hanleys Point and Gogleys Lagoon were closed due to sewerage leak into the river after a pipe burst at Bay Street, Dunbogan. 

On Sunday, December 17 following rigorous testing, Gogleys Lagoon was reopened for harvesting.

However all farms were forced to close operation again after 200 milimetres of rain fell on December 26, 2017. They reopened on January 10. 

“It’s been five weeks of very limited production,” Brandon said. 

“It’s been quite stressful, but in saying that we’ve still got the product out there.” 

Brandon estimated the Armstrong Oysters company lost about $300,000 in sales through the peak period but they are hoping to still earn it back. 

“It’s put pressure on us to try and make it happen over the next few months,” he said. 

“Again there are still a lot of risk factors out there which could jeopardize that.” 

Brandon said the business has learnt to plan for unforeseen events. 

“Even though it’s frustrating we’ve been able to farm our way through these situations,” he said. 

“We actually plan for these events.”

Brandon said although it’s frustrating they couldn’t harvest during a crucial period, it’s not the end of the world for the company. 

Armstrong Oysters has been able to find new markets due to heightened demand after Tasmania was hit by a disease called Pacific Oyster Mortality Syndrome (POMS). 

“Our area will be in high demand for winter,” he said. 

Brandon said the company often shifts their product to Nambucca Heads so that they can continue to harvest in the case of an unforeseen event in the Camden Haven, such as a heavy rain downpour. 

Oyster farming, Brandon said is a never-ending cycle. 

“Oysters don’t wait for you, they need to be looked after, and managed,” he said. 

“Unfortunately if they are not managed correctly the oysters will die.”