Oyster trial points to a new path for Gippsland economy

The Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation (GLaWAC), in partnership with the Victorian Fisheries Authorityand , has been trialling the development of a Sydney Rock Oyster industry in the lakes.

After two years of encouraging growth rates and signs the water quality can support commercial aquaculture, the program is now expanding with the addition of 60,000 oysters that will find homes in the shallow waters west of Lakes Entrance.

Tyrone Hayes, who leads GLaWAC’s Aquaculture Enterprise crew, said the project is about more than farming oysters. “We’re doing this our way, on Country, using what we know and what we’ve learned,” he said. “This isn’t just about oysters; it’s about opportunity.”

GLaWAC’s Acting Country Executive Director, Mathew Patterson, said the work is as much about people as it is about product. Gunaikurnai community have been involved in the project from the beginning, learning to monitor growth lines, monitor water conditions and understand the science behind oyster farming.

“The crews are building knowledge that will stay with them, whether they stay in aquaculture or not,” Patterson said. “We’re investing in our future leaders, and that starts with meaningful, hands-on work now.”

Sydney Rock Oysters are native to the Gippsland Lakes and considered a premium product, with growing demand across Australia. A successful Gippsland-based supply chain could feed into local and broader markets, offering new economic benefits in a region long shaped by its waterways.

The next phase of the project will test how oysters grow at commercial scale, and whether juvenile spat can thrive in the lakes’ conditions. These are key steps in determining whether a full-scale, sustainable industry is possible.

If it is, GLaWAC hopes to lead its development by creating jobs, building local skills and strengthening the regional economy. “We’re not rushing this,” Patterson said. “Together with the VFA, we’re doing the groundwork, learning the science, building capacity. If we get this right, the whole region benefits, not just Gunaikurnai people.”

We’re grateful for the backing of the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation and the Victorian Fisheries Authority, and especially for the support of experienced oyster farmers from the NSW South Coast who are sharing their time and knowledge with us.

Hayes said the work is steady and deliberate. “This is a long game. It’s hard work, backed by knowledge and care. If it works, it’s something we can all be proud of.”

For the Gunakurnai people, the project is another step toward a self determined future grounded in Country, guided by culture, and shaped on community’s own terms.