A pearler for oyster-growers

Michael Hearn had to sell his home to save his oyster farm but he's looking forward to a new start.Photo / Northern Advocate

After eight years of watching their farms and finances go to ruin, Waikare Inlet oyster growers can get back into the swim.

The lower and middle inlet areas have been reclassified and farmers given a provisional all-clear to start harvesting oysters again.

The waters were closed to aquaculture in 2001 because of severe contamination from a water-borne virus.

The announcement yesterday that the farmers may be only a signature away from getting back into full swing tasted as sweet as the famous Waikare oysters themselves.

One more round of water testing, and signing a management agreement, might be all it takes, said oyster farmer Michael Hearn.

"Yes, after eight years this is great news. It really is good news."

Mr Hearn said the maintenance he had been able to do on his farm over the past year meant he would be reaping his first harvest in a year.

But his family had sold their home for the money to keep the farm in working order while waiting for full production to restart, he said.

The costs had been far greater than loss of income. "We've missed out on business opportunities, property opportunities ... But we've held on, we're going to do it, we can't wait."

The renewed oyster farming would be good for the Bay of Islands economy, and before long would possibly employ up to 50 people.

But many farmers had been unable to afford maintenance while their farms were non-productive, he said, so would not get a financial return for a couple of years.

- NORTHERN ADVOCATE