Black market seafood crackdown
Joint agency crackdown on illegal seafood this festive seasonPurchasing black-market oysters and other illegal seafood will be targeted in a joint agency crackdown this festive season.
Operation Trident is a compliance operation designed to deter and detect oyster and seafood theft, protecting consumers against potentially unsafe, black market produce.
It will be a joint approach by NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI), NSW Food Authority and NSW Police Force.
DPI Fisheries Compliance Director, Patrick Tully, said the operation would include surveillance on the NSW coast.
"Black market oysters will be in the spotlight during the holiday period as authorities continue to focus on the illegal seafood trade in a multi-agency approach," Mr Tully said.
"This operation will include patrols and inspections up and down the NSW coast where we will be out to stop those involved in this unpalatable activity."
DPI Director Compliance Biosecurity and Food Safety, Peter Day, said Food Authority officers will also be on the lookout for oysters that don't meet the required standards.
"Oysters that haven't undergone the usual stringent food safety tests or purification procedures are a health risk and could end up making you very sick," Mr Day said.
"The Christmas New Year holiday period is the peak season for seafood and oyster consumption, and this operation will be conducted to coincide with the expected rise in illegal seafood trade."
NSW Police Marine Area Commander, Detective Superintendent Mark Hutchings, said stealing oysters and selling black-market seafood are serious crimes.
"These offences are an attack on the livelihoods of hard-working oyster farmers who live up and down the NSW coast," Det Supt Hutchings said.
"Throughout Operation Trident, we will work closely with our partner agencies to arrest and charge anyone who insists on peddling illegal seafood," he said.
NSW Farmers Association Oyster Committee chair, Caroline Henry, said the oyster industry supported the multi-agency response.
"Each Christmas oyster farmers work extremely hard to supply consumers who are either celebrating or holidaying with oysters," Ms Henry said.
"It is extremely distressing when we find that our stock has been stolen and we are in full support of Operation Trident."
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