Port Stephens — Australian Seafood Guide

About Port Stephens

A vast natural harbour north of Newcastle hosting oyster farms, recreational fishing, and a charter-boat industry built on snapper, kingfish, and mulloway.

Key facts

Sydney Rock Oysters in the inner reaches
Premier game-fishing charter centre
Marine park supports significant biodiversity

Top species caught here

Yellowtail Kingfish

~70% of catch

Huon Aquaculture sea-cage Yellowtail Kingfish.

Australian Oysters

~20% of catch

Key fishing ports

Nelson Bay — Working harbour and aquaculture support.

Processors, co-ops & markets

Huon Aquaculture (Yellowtail Kingfish)

processor

Hunter Local Land Services (NSW DPI)

research

Historical timeline

1990
Sydney Rock Oyster culture established in Port Stephens estuary.
2018
Yellowtail Kingfish sea-cage trial commences.
2022
Commercial-scale Yellowtail Kingfish operation underway.

Cultural & heritage significance

Port Stephens is the second of Australia's two scaled Yellowtail Kingfish aquaculture regions (alongside Spencer Gulf). It also hosts a long-standing Sydney Rock Oyster industry.

Visitor experiences

Port Stephens oyster trail — Estuary-to-plate experiences

Sources cited on this page

Australian fisheries and aquaculture statistics 2023 — ABARES (Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry), 2024
Annual statistical compendium covering volume, value, exports, employment.
NSW stock status reports — NSW Department of Primary Industries — Fisheries, 2024