A gale warning for Foveaux Strait might delay the start of this year's Bluff oyster fishing season.
The MetService is predicting rough seas with up to a 3m swell and poor visibility for the next few days, with conditions easing only on Saturday.
Barnes Oysters manager Graeme Wright said it was frustrating when the weather affected plans, as it had been hoped boats would have been able to head out last night, ready to start fishing today.
"It looks like it could be Friday [tomorrow] now, but we remain ever hopeful."
If the weather was to ease this afternoon the boats would go out, he said, which would then mean oysters could be available to the public tomorrow.
If the weather did not improve until the weekend, it would probably be Monday before oysters could reach Otago retailers.
The industry was hopeful of a good quality catch this season, he said. The total catch remained at last year's level of 9.5 million.
Scientists had completed a survey of the beds and checked for the protozoan parasite bonamia this year and the industry was still awaiting those results.
"The science guys thought things looked pretty good, there's still a bit of bonamia, but it's not in key fishing areas."
Once the results were available and the fishermen had completed four or five weeks of fishing, the situation would be assessed, Mr Wright said.
"We'll revisit it and then make a decision," he said.
