The Shellfish
Farm News
July 2004
Shellfish farming
has a long history in B.C., going back 70-100 years in some
areas and while some things have changed, some have remained
the same. Oysters are still hand picked from the beach and
shucked by hand. Clams are also harvested from the beach
by hand, picked one at a time. Beach work occurs at low
tide, which in the summer happens in the daytime and in
the winter occurs at night, with the help of headlamps.
Modern technology
however has changed many aspects of shellfish farming. By
perfecting hatchery techniques shellfish farmers were able
to cease their dependence on unreliable wild seed stocks
over 20 years ago. Off-shore sites located in deep water
have also been developed over the past 20 years with long-lines
and rafts that enable farmers to expand their oyster crop
without using up limited beach areas. Some of these sites
have also been developed to grow scallops and mussels.
Heightened environmental
awareness has placed all resource activities under increased
scrutiny in recent decades and shellfish farming is no exception.
However, researchers are confirming what farmers have known
for decades - that shellfish crops provide many benefits
to the environment. Shellfish farms on the beach and in
deepwater function as living reefs, filtering the water
and providing food and shelter for a wide variety of sea-life
including crabs, snails and fish. Researchers have found
that shellfish crops play a key role in improving water
quality and contributing to a healthier ecosystem.
A healthy and
safe diet is also important for all consumers today. While
old-time oyster farmers simply said that eating a fresh
succulent oyster made them “feel alive”, science
tells us today that oysters, clams and mussels are high
in protein and low in fats and contain important vitamins
and minerals. Modern testing methods can also help minimize
the risk of food borne illness by tracking shellfish safety.
Water treatment systems originally designed for municipal
drinking water have been modified to filter seawater for
clam purification. Live oysters and mussels can also be
held in tanks of purified filtered seawater prior to sale
to maximize freshness and quality.
Most of all however,
shellfish farming still requires huge amounts of hard work
and dedication, a love of the outdoors and a profound respect
for Mother Nature, and always will.
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