'Absolutely gutting': $12K worth of seafood taken from Queensland bay in oyster heist

They're a fine-dining favourite of Australian cuisine, but in one of the country's smaller farming regions, oysters have become a target for thieves.

Kieron Gait is one of seven locals behind Bulimba Oyster Company.

This year was supposed to be their second harvest, but someone beat them to it.

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About 600 dozen mature oysters, worth about $12,000 had been nicked straight from the lines of the company's farming lease off Stradbroke Island in Brisbane's Moreton Bay.

"We're gutted," Gait said.

"They were full size, plump, juicy, and ready to go.

"We'd come to pick them up to deliver to a restaurant and our online customer orders and we have nothing, so they were all plate ready."

It's the third year in a row an oyster heist has taken place in the bay.

Queensland Oyster Growers Association president professor Andrew Robson believes taking such a huge haul of oysters would require extensive know-how, equipment, and a willing buyer ready to sell or store the stolen goods.

"You're talking about a tonne of oysters being removed in one go, so it's definitely an organised theft," Robson said.

"It's not just a by-chance boatie or jet skier going past."

Water Police conduct patrols of the area, but the thieves have dodged them as well.

Now it seems installing specialised security cameras could be the only option.

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"We're hoping through working with the Queensland government that we might as an industry have the opportunity to deploy surveillance cameras across the majority of leases in the future," Robson said.

"Something like that would be an absolute godsend to be able to monitor the waters much more proficiently," Gait said.

"[But] for people like us, you know, we're essentially hobby farmers trying to grow a business. ...A seven or $8000 camera is, it's a, it's a major expense.

"We just have to ramp up the security and cross our fingers... it's gutting, mate.

"Absolutely gutting."