Grow-out

Growing Shellfish

Growing Oysters and Mussels

Oysters and mussels have different stages of growing. The growing operations for mussels require three different stages; seed in circulating tank, seed in suspended cages and final grow-out on rafts. Oysters have similar stages; bins of seed in Flupsy and onto rafts in suspension trays. Grown in a natural marine environment, our stock is regularly replenished at all stages of growth to ensure a constant supply of shellfish for the market place.

Growing Oysters

Stage 1: We start with 2.3 mm oyster seed. It is placed into fiberglass bins in the large Flupsy or nursery raft shown below.

The oyster seed takes its food from the water; we do not feed it. The Flupsy provides an increased flow of water through the bins thereby increasing the food available.

Maintenance requires weekly screening of the seed to separate the different sizes. Larger seed would inhibit the growth of the smaller seed if in the same bin. When separated, each size is allowed the optimum space for growth.

Bin of oyster seed in Flupsy

Stage 2:

When the seed grows to 20 mm or more the oysters are put into a series of plastic trays.

These trays are stacked together and suspended in the water hanging off rafts.

Maintenance requires monthly tumbling and grading of oysters on the harvesting barge. Tumbling breaks off excess shell growth producing a deeper cup and a thicker, harder shell. Grading separates the oysters into different sizes.

Each size is put back into trays and once again suspended off rafts allowing for maximum growth. Pacific Rim Petites are ready for market in 10 to 16 months. Mature oysters are held in sixty to ninety feet of water.

Growing Mussels

Stage 1: 1- 2 mm seed is spread on screens and placed in a circulating tank for 24 hours. During this stage, 60,000 to 100,000 baby mussels attach to each screen.

Stage 2:

The screens are then transferred from the tank to cages which are hung off rafts to a depth of 15 to 25 feet. This stage lasts for 8 to 10 weeks. Maintenance requires occasionally dipping the screens in freshwater to eliminate flatworm and rotating them to reduce fowling.

Stage 3:

When the mussels have grown to 7-15 mm, they are scraped off the screens and put into cotton socks. The socks are suspended in plastic trays; the mussels move outside the socks within hours. The stacks of trays are hung off rafts into 10 to 30 feet. Gallo and Edulis mussels are ready for market in 10 to 14 months.