Field testing a new oyster grow-out system

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The British Columbia (BC) shellfish aquaculture industry is comprised of nearly 300 producers, most of which are small- and medium-sized enterprises located in small coastal communities. Pacific oysters are the most commercially important farmed shellfish in BC by weight and value. There is an immediate need for a new oyster grow-out system that is practical for farmers and improves oyster survival in the face of changing environmental conditions. Rising Tide Shellfish (RTS) has created an innovative method for raising Pacific oysters that requires less labour than standard grow-out trays, and early testing has resulted in much higher oyster survival. In this project, NSERC will support North Island College (NIC) and RTS in the construction and field testing of a more refined and effective prototype. The researchers will test oyster growth and survival in the new system as well as in the standard oyster trays. Not only will the new grow-out system improve RTS' production efficiency and profit, but it could have far-reaching opportunities throughout the BC shellfish aquaculture sector.