Albany Rock Oyster harvest 2024/25 begins: a growing new WA industry delivers award winning oysters for everyone this summer

The Albany Rock Oyster harvest officially began in the Great Southern today, with Harvest Road’s award-winning West Australian rock oysters heading to fishmongers and restaurants as the weather warms up.

After four years of investment and job creation, Harvest Road’s aquaculture business Leeuwin Coast will this year be able to deliver oysters widely available across WA, as well as Sydney and Melbourne.

Until now West Australians often didn’t have the chance to eat West Australian Oysters – this festive season that changes.

And the east coast is already acknowledging their quality. At Sydney’s Royal Easter Show earlier this year Leeuwin Coast won three gold medals for its WA rock oysters –in the Sydney rock oyster category.

Normally harvested in the warmer months of November to April when they are in peak condition, Albany Rock Oysters are grown in the aptly named Oyster Harbour, nourished by fresh waters from the King and Kalgan Rivers and saltwater of the Southern Ocean, conditions that provide a nutrient-rich growing environment.

Harvest Road, a portfolio company of Tattarang, is also currently building a second oyster farming operation at nearby Shoal Bay after it received a sublicense in the second stage of the West Australian Government’s Albany Aquaculture DevelopmentZone in July.

Harvest Road Group CEO Tim Wood said the business was proud to be developing a growing industry for the Great Southern.

“The national recognition that Harvest Road has already received gives us confidence that Albany Rock Oysters will be a growing industry for Western Australia and will be a premium oyster of choice for diners in WA and on the east coast alike,” Mr Wood said.

Harvest Road General Manager, Aquaculture, Richard Kohne said Albany Rock Oysters are carefully managed across their three-year lifecycle to create a premium shape and flavour.

“Starting their life in the local hatchery, and then transitioning to purpose built, state of the art nursery facilities, Albany Rock Oysters are graded so that only the best quality juveniles continue their journey into the baskets in Oyster Harbour,” Mr Kohne said.

“But ultimately it’s the pristine, nutrient rich waters of the Great Southern that are delivering the exceptional, well-balanced flavour that experts and chefs are applauding,” Mr Kohne said.

“Previously a small volume, little-known product, Albany Rock Oysters are holding their own against Sydney rock oysters and Coffin Bay oysters for shellfish connoisseurs and I encourage everyone to try them,” he said.

Click here to find out where you can buy Albany Rock Oysters this summer.

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