An angry Batemans Bay oyster farmer says $25,000 in oysters and equipment has been stolen in a string of river raids - and fears a clandestine Canberra market is profiting.
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After losing $20,000 of baby oysters and equipment a year ago, Ray Wilcox says he has suffered repeated raids.
In the latest, this week, he said 24-dozen immature oysters were stolen after Tuesday.
"Our smaller oysters are being taken regularly," he told The Batemans Bay Post.
He said 55 baskets of his best mature oysters were taken three weeks ago with baskets, costing him up to $3000.
"Each basket contains 24-36 oysters," Mr Wilcox said.
"The ones they took were premium triploid oysters.
"They were in good condition and of a large size.
"That was the largest batch of full-grown oysters they have stolen from us, but we also got hit hard in October last year.
"Then they took about $20,000 worth of baby oysters."
All thefts have been reported to police, who are investigating, but Mr Wilcox wants the community to keep an eye out for suspicious behaviour and people selling oysters.
"There's two types of people that steal oysters: those who just want a feed and those who are taking so many, they must be selling them commercially," he said.
"I suspect they are coming in at night and then selling them in Canberra, because it's such a short trip.
"We have heard rumours of people taking oysters and unloading them at the riverside camping grounds between Batemans Bay and Nelligen.
"They seem to raid in the middle of the week, when less people are around."
Mr Wilcox has been farming the Clyde for more than two years with Max Ladmore and said the repeated blows were hurting.
"We started it off as a hobby and it's turned into a serious business," he said.
"We have two employees and we've been trying to modernise the lease.
"These thefts are hurting us and several other farmers have been hit.
"We are lucky we can tell when baskets are missing, but some farmers don't go back to the lease for months on end.
"Some have installed security cameras so they can catch the thieves and we are considering doing the same."
Anyone with any information should phone Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
