Pacific Oyster Mortality Syndrome (OsHV-1 microvariant, POMS) is a disease first detected in New South Wales (NSW) in 2010 and in Tasmania in 2016 and has had a significant adverse impact on the industry. Since the two hatcheries that produce most of the oyster spat for Australia are based in Tasmania, production in NSW and SA will also be significantly reduced. This project will focus on accelerating the breeding for POMS resistant oysters and to ensure the benefits are realised across all pacific oyster growing regions.

Specifically the project will implement a selective breeding strategy, identify biosecurity constraints to the movement of oyster stock, review and communicate protocols and procedures for the use of OsHV-1 exposed broodstock by hatcheries and the transfer of resulting progeny compliant with State regulations. In addition, protocols to predict field survival, with the goal of a 70% correlation between the laboratory and field tests will be developed. Methods and protocols for producing virus free spat will be developed enabling the industry to recover and be protected from the possible expansion of POMs into new areas.