The boats are at sea and the oyster-lovers are queued as southern shops are stocking up with the now in-season Bluff delicacy.
The start of the oyster season began on Monday, and the sought-after shellfish were selling well since Barnes Oysters opened at 8am yesterday morning.
General manager Graeme Wright said processing began early yesterday morning.
"At a guess we've got about 3000 dozen or something like that."