John Lindsay from Lindsays Fresh Seafood has been growing oysters for over 30 years on the Bellingen River and he knows quite a few interesting facts about seafood that will suprise you.
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1. Oysters
The oysters we eat aren’t the same oysters that produce pearls. They are two entirely different species of oyster, the ‘Ostreidae’ is the true oyster and the type we eat.
2. Rainbow Trout
These fish are members of the salmon family with the difference being that Rainbow Trout have teeth.
3. Bluefin Tuna
Bluefin Tuna can live for up to 40 years. Migrating across entire oceans in their lifetime, they thrive at depths of 3000 feet underwater, which would easily crush a human.
4. Prawns
Prawns that are caught locally to Bellingen actually come from the South coast of NSW. The way this works is, when the rivers flood, the small prawns are flushed out into the ocean in the East Coast current. They end up further up the coast by the time they have grown big enough to be caught in the prawn nets. Prawns that start their lives in Bellingen, would end up being caught further towards Queensland once they reach a decent size.
5. Oysters
Oysters take an average of three years to grow to the preferred eating size. They are handled around 15-20 times over this period, every two months. Growing oysters is a labour intensive job, you can’t just leave them be and return three years later.
6. Flathead
Dusky Flathead can grow to 120cm in length. The female fish grow much faster than males of the species.
7. Barramundi
The name Barramundi is Aboriginal for “large scaled silver fish. Almost all barramundi are born male and turn into females when they are three to four years old.
8. Tastebuds
Fish have tastebuds inside their mouth, on their tongue and on the outside of their body including their fins.
9. Easy Oysters
Throw your oysters on the barbecue this Christmas. A little heat will help the oysters to pop open without the fuss of a oyster knife.
10. Thawing fish
John says the best way to thaw your frozen fish is slowly in the fridge. Thawing prawns or fish in water or too quickly in the heat will result in tough fish.
Drop into see John for all your fresh seafood this Christmas. Lindsay's Oyster Barn is located on the Pacific Highway next to the BP Service Centre, North Urunga.