Thieves, and perhaps someone with inside industry information, stole 300 baskets each containing up to 75 harvestable-size Sydney rock oysters from his leases at the top of Wagonga Inlet sometime between Monday, June 26 and Wednesday, July 12.

Related story: Major oyster theft at Narooma sees up to 1800 dozen go missing

Mr Fernihough and his father Trevor had just taken over the lease after purchasing it a few months ago. He had been over in Western Australia picking up his car and completing his move to Narooma when the theft occurred.

He estimates the theft took about 15 per cent of his stock in baskets, and together with the actual baskets was probably worth around $20,000 to his operation.

“Of course we are disappointed but we just have to keep going,” he said. “These things happen.”

Other than the theft, he said all the other growers and the town in general had made him very welcome and he was looking forward to his new venture, having no prior experience at oyster farming.

Helping him out in his lease is his father Trevor, who when not in Narooma is an emergency doctor at Murdoch Hospital in Perth. The plan is for his father and mother to retire and move out to Narooma where they can help run the oyster business.

The Narooma theft follows successive raids on Clyde River oyster leases in recent years, which also targeted a grower relatively new to the industry. Batemans Bay leases were targeted last year and in 2015, with one newcomer losing 40,000 immature oysters.

Police are hoping someone saw something and any information can be passed on anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Authorities last Christmas targeted black market oysters with covert and overt patrols and inspections to detect and deter oyster theft and protect consumers against potentially unsafe black market produce.

Phone Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or Fishers Watch on 1800 043 536 with any information.