Field testing a new oyster grow-out system

不列颠哥伦比亚省贝类水产养殖业由近300名生产者组成，其中大多数是位于沿海小社区的中小型企业。按重量和价值计算，太平洋牡蛎是不列颠哥伦比亚省最具商业价值的养殖贝类。面对不断变化的环境条件，迫切需要一种新的牡蛎培育系统，该系统对农民来说是可行的，并提高牡蛎的存活率。涨潮贝类(RTS)创造了一种养殖太平洋牡蛎的创新方法，比标准的生长托盘需要更少的劳动力，早期测试导致牡蛎存活率大大提高。在这个项目中，NSERC将支持北岛学院(NIC)和RTS建造和实地测试一个更精致和有效的原型。研究人员将在新系统和标准牡蛎托盘中测试牡蛎的生长和存活情况。新的扩展系统不仅将提高RTS的生产效率和利润，而且可能对BC贝类水产养殖业产生深远的机遇。

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.