Ewan McAsh

Nuffield Australia 2012 scholarship winner

Ewan McAsh, from Burill Lake in New South Wales, receives the 2012 Nuffield Scholarship sponsored by the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation. Ewan would like to research a new strategic direction for the NSW oyster industry.

Ewan is managing director of McAsh Oysters based on the Clyde River, Batemans Bay, where they produce Sydney Rock Oysters. Their goal is to increase production from 50,000 dozen to 150,000 dozen in the next two years and have also opened a licensed oyster and wine bar in Ulladulla.

With declining production in the Sydney Rock Oyster industry in NSW, Ewan would like to revive what he calls a 'sunset industry' saying, "with strong market conditions and the availability of labour‐saving technologies, the oyster industry has great potential for growth – a lifestyle of working on the river is surely attractive to potential investors and new entrants to the industry."

However Ewan doesn't believe those new entrants and up‐and‐coming farmers are given the necessary direction or support on efficient, profitable ways to farm oysters saying, "as an industry we need to review our strategic direction and communicate this vision to industry members to assist and guide them."

Settng his travel itinerary is a pretty easy decision for Ewan – he's going to follow the oysters to Toronto and Quebec in Canada, Massachusetts and New York in the USA and Europe, particularly France.

2/(8‐10) Wuru Dve,
BURILL LAKE, NSW 2539
0414 890 581
ewan@mcashoysters.com