It's possible this year's running of the iconic annual Bluff Oyster Festival may be the last. 

Only half of the four-thousand tickets to the event, taking place on May 23, have been sold.  

Normally it's a sell out by now. 

Festival chair John Edminstin told Mike Hosking there were early fears about an oyster shortage, but that's eased.  

He says unless there's a freak storm in the next couple of weeks, there'll be five boats fishing for oysters right up until the festival opening.  

LISTEN ABOVE