Oyster season extended
Oyster-lovers' prayers have been answered with the Government giving a one-off extension to the Bluff oyster season, to give the Rugby World Cup supporters a chance to enjoy the delicacies.
Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister Phil Heatley said a special permit had been issued to run from September 5 to October 23.
"The sustainability of the fishery was a key concern when considering this special permit."
Without this extension, the oyster season ended for recreational and commercial fishers on August 31st.
"We have a relatively short time-frame to showcase the best of New Zealand produce to the many thousands of visitors who will be visiting our shores during the Rugby World Cup."
This decision by the Government is perfectly in line with their exploitive/extractive world view - if it can be sold, dig it up. Giving lip-service to environmental concerns, as Heatly has done here will work just fine - New Zealand's rugby-loving public won't give the proposal a second thought, I'm guessing. After all, the oyster has no lobby group, save those who want to eat them.
I protest the decision though. It's just greedy. When he was in Bluff, John Key said he yearned to 'eat his body-weight in oysters', so his Government's decision to haul out-of-season oysters up for the sake of rugby, is no surprise at all.
