Bluff's famous wild oysters could soon be farmed and exported.
The Bluff Oyster Company has started a hatchery at the old Ocean Beach meatworks and is now looking for somewhere to bring them to full size.
The waters of Bluff's harbour have not been certified, so the business has linked with Southern Clams Limited and is about to apply to finish the oysters in Otago's harbour instead.
Southern Clams operations manager Dave Redshaw says the farmed molluscs would complement the trade in wild Bluff oysters and would not be a direct competitor.
Mr Redshaw says that is because the shellfish could be raised outside of the wild oyster season.
He says the company will be applying to the Otago Regional Council in the next two months for permission to raise the oysters.