Australia's $15 million Pacific oyster-growing industry is being nurtured to new levels of growth through a dietary formula created for the industry's nursery.

CSIRO and industry marine researchers are developing a more efficient, cost effective and naturally-sourced formula for seed oysters using cultured algae and pastes.

According to senior research scientist at CSIRO's Division of Marine Research, Dr Malcolm Brown, demand for seed oysters is likely to increase in the future, with the Tasmanian government allocating more zones for aquaculture and expanding opportunities in the lucrative Japanese export market for table oysters.

Funded by the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC), Tasmanian east coast oyster seed producer Shellfish Culture (the largest producer in Australia) and the Aquaculture Cooperative Research Centre, the project has achieved significant gains in the first two years of researching the juvenile oysters' algal diets.

Dr Brown says that during the early juvenile stages, oysters experience problems with growth and survival.

"This is the stage where we have achieved the most impact in researching cultured algae as well as algal concentrates or "pastes" to supplement the natural diet.

"With the appropriate diets, we have tripled the growth of oysters over a three week period."

"During the next year we want to assess a broader range of artificial diets which are commercially-available as well as checking if growth in the short term can be sustained over a longer period," Dr Brown said.

He said the research will advance growth in the juvenile stages providing a valuable efficiency for seed producers, enabling them to increase their production.

The General Manager of Shellfish Culture, Martin John, said the Pacific oyster industry is growing rapidly and it is important to continue practiced research and development with scientific institutions such as CSIRO.

More information: Malcolm Brown 03-62325308