Southern Clams is looking at ''plan B'' after hearing the concerns of Dunedin's yachting fraternity about its proposed Bluff oyster finishing project in Otago Harbour.
The company and the New Zealand Bluff Oyster Company had proposed finishing Bluff oysters in a spot sailors described as ''prime real estate'' for recreational sailors in the lower harbour.
Representatives from Yachting New Zealand, Otago Trailer Yacht Squadron and Port Chalmers Yacht Club met Southern Clams last week to discuss their concerns.
Port Chalmers Yacht Club commodore Richard Hawkins said it was a productive meeting.
The parting words from Southern Clams operations manager Dave Redshaw were ''I'll get the rubber out'' in relation to their concerns about the finishing site.
''I was surprised they would give it up so easily but if they had gone ahead we would not have been able to hold national contests or hold anything in the bay.''
It was good the club would not have to spend time and money fighting such an application.
Mr Redshaw said the AAA2 finishing site was its ''wish list'' but it was possible other sites on the edge of the yachting area would be suitable for the project.
''I think we can put it in a site that does not conflict with their yachting.''
He would look at finding smaller sites that were less likely to ''worry'' harbour users, such as moving AAA2 closer to the coast and on the edge of one of Southern Clams' clam's sanitation areas, he said.
Another, AAA3, was within Southern Clams' other sanitation area above Quarantine Island.
''The idea is we cover a range of intertidal areas with some access to water about 2m deep which is possible without being in normal areas of boats, parallel to the clam harvesting banks.''
He would consult the yachting fraternity again when those sites were finalised, Mr Redshaw said.
