Successful New Brunswick oyster farming company
Canada: New Brunswick based La Maison BeauSoleil has grown to become a very successful oyster farming company since its foundation in 1998. As proof of its success the company last week landed a prestigious award from the Conceil Economique Du Nouveau-Brunswick Inc.
It has been about a decade since the company started farming oysters and is now not only harvesting this very sought after seafood, but also harvesting a lot of attention for its specialty "coctail" oysters. The company uses cutting edge technology to grow a premium product. Recently, they discovered a pearl in one of its mollusks.
The company expects to reach 10 million oysters exported within the next couple of years, and the company is one of the first to grow oysters in New Brunswick. They specialize in "coctail" oysters, which are small in size, but of very high quality.
The particular oyster specie, ostrea virginica, is quite common in North America. They are special because of their small size and are harvested early when they reach about 6-7 cm.
The majority of other oysters are at least 7-8 cm long when they are harvested, and about five years old. The advantage of the BeauSoleil oyster is that the shells are thinner and they have a higher meat-to-shell ratio.
The company grows their oysters in the Bay of Fundy, near Néguac, Shippagan and Richibuctou. This is an area of the bay which has very shallow waters and is not conducive to other types of aquaculture activities.
Today the company exports account for 60-70 percent of the annual total New Brunswick oyster output. Their export has grown from about 25 tons in 2001 to almost 500 tons last year. The company employs approximately 90 people.
