Police are investigating the theft of 400,000 oysters from a farm on the New South Wales mid-north coast. The stolen oysters are estimated to be worth $350,000. This was reported by infohub.kz.

The incident occurred at an oyster farm in Scotts Creek, Oxley Island. Police received a report of the theft on Tuesday morning and are urging anyone with CCTV or dashcam footage to come forward.

Latitude 31 Oyster Co, which operates a Sydney rock oyster farm on the Manning River adjacent to Scotts Creek, described the theft as "massive" on social media. The company stated that oyster theft impacts more than just the individual farmer, affecting businesses, families, and the reputation of the entire NSW oyster industry. They urged the community to report anyone trying to sell or suddenly possessing a large quantity of oysters.

The stolen oysters were not ready for immediate sale and would have needed another four to six months to grow. Gary Rodley, owner of Tathra Oysters in Tasmania, noted that fully grown oysters could fetch $1.50 to $2 each. He did not rule out that the theft could be the work of an industry peer, given the age and quantity of the oysters.

Another Manning River farmer, who wished to remain anonymous, mentioned a recent shortage of the coveted Sydney rock oyster. Major floods in 2021 and 2025 wiped out oyster stocks in the region, and with a three-year farming cycle, it could take another two years for farmers' incomes to recover.

The farmer said theft is not uncommon in the Manning River area, but his own oysters were taken by locals. He invested in an artificial oyster with a tracker from France, costing over $2,000, which helped him take a thief to court in 2022, resulting in a $500 fine.

Many oyster farmers, including Rodley, have installed surveillance systems to deter thieves. Sydney rock oysters are considered one of the best-tasting oysters in the world and only grow along the New South Wales coastline, making them a rare product.

A crime scene has been established and police investigations are ongoing.