New Brunswick's oyster plant aims for global market

The building of a new aquaculture facility in New Brunswick (NB), Canada could launch the province into the international farmed oyster market.

Village Bay Sea Products will begin construction on a CAD1 million (US$981,595) farmed oyster system in Richibucto. The land-based cultivation system will produce a steady, year-round supply of oysters for the international market.

Oyster markets in Brussels, Asia and Germany all seek consistency in their supply, said Danny King, general manager at Village Bay.

Although most farmed oyster facilities are in the water, Village Bay's will be constructed on land. It will span over 5,500 square metres and include large temperature controlled tanks.

Around 11 million farmed oysters are sold each year in NB. The two main farmed varieties are commercial and cocktail oysters.

Village Bay hopes to finish constructing the exterior of the building this summer and continue the internal construction into autumn.

The project recently received CAD375,000 (US$368,098) through an innovation grant from Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO). The Aquaculture Innovation and Market Access Programme (AIMAP) funding assisted in leveraging an anticipated total of over CAD1 million (US$981,595) from other sources.