Tiwi Islands celebrate milestone in Territory-grown oyster industry
The Territory Government is backing the growth of the Northern Territory’s Blacklip Rock Oyster industry, with progress on the ground showcased at a community field day last week on Bathurst Island.
Held at Wurrumiyanga on 19 June 2025, the Oyster Farm Field Day brought together local community members, industry participants and research partners to celebrate the trial’s success and the shared commitment to establishing a commercial oyster industry led by Aboriginal communities.
The trial site at Apsley Strait, operated by the Mantiyupwi Aboriginal Corporation, is one of several involved in the project, alongside sites on South Goulburn Island, Groote Eylandt, and at Wadeye.
The Blacklip Rock Oyster farm trials is providing important information on how to grow oysters in NT waters and building local experience and capacity in Aboriginal communities to operate commercial oyster farms.
The Blacklip Rock Oyster is native to northern Australia and is well suited to local conditions. Research through the Darwin Aquaculture Centre, operated by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, is building the technical and community capacity needed to grow a reliable, high-quality product and get it to market.
A total of $5.2 million has been invested in this project since its inception in 2020, with the target to support the establishment of a Territory Blacklip Rock Oyster industry. This includes $2.96 million from the Northern Territory Government, over $2 million from the Cooperative Research Centre for Developing Northern Australia and $238,000 from Aboriginal partner organisations.
This has been a collaborative approach between the NT Government, the Cooperative Research Centre for Developing Northern Australian and four partner Aboriginal organisations: Yagbani Aboriginal Corporation on South Goulburn Island, Mantiyupwi Aboriginal Corporation on Bathurst Island, Thamarrurr Development Corporation at Wadeye and the Groote Aqua Aboriginal Corporation on Groote Eylandt.
Previous farm open days for the project have been held at South Goulburn Island, Groote Eylandt and Darwin Aquaculture Centre.
In the Top End, Blacklip Rock Oyster aquaculture incorporates local knowledge, historical connection, cultural appropriateness, and sustainable farming methods.
