Challenges and opportunities of aquaculture supply chains: Case study of oysters in Australia

Assessing seafood supply chains is important at both individual business and industry levels to ensure profitability, efficiency, and consumer satisfaction. Such assessments are typically aimed at understanding the structure of the supply network and at optimizing processes within the chain. Yet, identifying broader supply chain challenges (e.g., access to inputs, market access barriers) and opportunities (e.g., increasing demand) at an industry level is also important to inform industry development strategies. The aim of this case study is to identify challenges and opportunities within the four oyster species’ supply chains in Australia (Sydney rock oyster - Saccostrea glomerata, the Pacific oyster - Crassostrea gigas (also referred to as Magallana gigas), Angasi oyster - Ostrea angasi, Black lip oyster - Saccostrea echinate/Striostrea (Parastriostrea) mytiloides) and to offer options on how to address these. Data was collected through supply chain stakeholder interviews during October 2019 and August 2020. Findings suggest that challenges vary depending on the production scale of the industries as low-volume producing oyster industries grapple with production related challenges, while challenges of large-volume producing oyster industries also center around value creation. Opportunities are predominantly seen in addressing the identified challenges.