Theft of 400,000 juvenile oysters from NSW Mid North Coast oyster farms
Consensus Summary
Three news sources report the theft of 400,000 juvenile oysters worth $350,000 from Latitude 31 Oysters on the NSW Mid North Coast, with the incident occurring on Tuesday morning. The stolen oysters were contained in 320 aquaculture bags and are not yet ready for sale, requiring another four to six months of growth. Ryan Freeman, the owner of the business, has operated for six years and estimates the theft represents a third of his livestock. The industry in NSW includes 230 oyster farming businesses, which produced 70 million oysters worth $78 million in 2023-24. Police are investigating, and the Guardian notes that flooding in 2021 and 2025 has previously disrupted oyster stocks, with recovery expected to take another two years. Freeman and other farmers express frustration, suggesting the theft may be industry-related due to the scale and timing.
✓ Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- 400,000 juvenile oysters were stolen from Latitude 31 Oysters on the NSW Mid North Coast
- The theft involved 320 aquaculture oyster bags
- The stolen oysters were worth approximately $350,000
- The theft was reported to police on Tuesday morning
- The stolen oysters are not ready for immediate sale and require another four to six months of growth
- Ryan Freeman owns Latitude 31 Oysters and has operated for six years
- NSW has 230 oyster farming businesses
- The industry produced 70 million oysters worth $78 million in 2023-24
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Ryan Freeman estimated $400,000 worth of stock and equipment was stolen, including 80 per cent of his stock intended for Christmas sales
- Freeman sells 35-40,000 dozen oysters at Christmas time
- Freeman lost a third of his livestock due to the theft
- The oyster leases are located in the Manning River, Karuah River, and Port Stephens region
- The stolen oysters were described as cocktail or bistro-sized
- Oyster farmer Gary Rodley estimated fully grown oysters could fetch $1.50 to $2 each
- Major flooding in 2021 and 2025 wiped oyster stocks in the region, with recovery expected to take another two years
- A Manning River oyster farmer used a $2,000 artificial oyster tracker to catch a thief in 2022, who was fined $500
- Sydney rock oysters are farmed on a three-year cycle
- Freeman described the theft as a targeted operation involving three to four tonnes of oysters
- The theft occurred within the last month or so, as the oysters were juvenile and not yet re-graded
Where the reporting differs
Details that conflict, or appear in only some outlets:
- The ABC and 7NEWS state the theft occurred in 2023-24, but the Guardian references flooding in 2021 and 2025, implying a longer timeline for industry struggles
- The ABC and 7NEWS mention the theft involved $400,000 worth of stock and equipment, while the Guardian only references the $350,000 value of the oysters themselves
Source Articles
Police investigate theft of 400,000 oysters in NSW
An oyster business on the New South Wales Mid North Coast estimates as much as $400,000 worth of its stock has been stolen.
Now you seafood, now you don’t: $350k worth of oysters vanish without a trace in NSW
About 400,000 juvenile Sydney rock oysters were taken from an oyster farm on state’s mid-north coast earlier this year, police say Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Police are on the hunt for a seafood swindler after 400,000 oysters were allegedly stolen from a farm at a river on the New South Wales mid-north coast. About 320 bags of juvenile oysters, worth an estimated $350,000, were taken from an oyster farm in Scotts Creek, Oxley Island, earlier this year, according
Thieves steal 400,000 oysters worth $350,000 from NSW farmer
An oyster farmer is reeling after juvenile stock was swiped in what he believes was a targeted operation.
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