The last fresh Bluff oysters have been fished from the ocean for 2011, ending a two-month special permit allowing the seafood delicacy to be harvested during the Rugby World Cup.
Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister Phil Heatley approved the special permit to allow rugby supporters a chance to taste some of the best oysters in the world.
It meant the commercial season, which usually ends on August 29, was extended from September 4 to October 23.
During the official season, commercial operators had fished 9.5 million of their 15 million quota.
Barnes Oysters manager Graeme Wright said about an extra million oysters were harvested during the special permit.
The last oysters were harvested this week, the greatest demand having been during Invercargill's and Dunedin's World Cup pool games, he said.
"They've been well received in the marketplace."
They had kept the price per dozen steady during the event, as it was about supporting the event rather than making big amounts of money.
Skippers' reports of the condition of the fisheries during the season were favourable and suggested stocks were "at or above" where they were normally, he said.
That would be confirmed by the regular bonamia and stock-assessment reports done by scientists early in the new year, he said.
The permit avoids the peak oyster-spawning period from November through summer, but allows for fishing to stop should spawning take place earlier than expected.
