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Grow-out Operations
Our grow-out operations is built entirely on the water in a system of rafts and barges. It encompasses a highly efficient and productive off-bottom culture system. Our tumbling methods and deep water harvesting makes our products unique. There are 26 grow-out rafts, a nursery Flupsy, as well as two barges, one for harvesting and one for housing and storage.
Grow-out RaftsWe have 26 rafts for growing oyster and mussels off the bottom. Each has a tray suspension scheme to hold the growing shellfish. There are 110 stacks on each raft as you can see in the picture with 8 trays in each stack. The stacks of trays are hung off the sections of rafts at three different depths of deep water. This system is one of the most productive in the world.
Harvesting BargeThe harvesting barge houses the tumbler/grader, a hydraulic hoist and a generator. This 20 by 24 ft. covered area provides space to wash, grade and bag our shellfish. The hydraulic hoist with a 26 ft. boom is used to lift the stacks of oysters and mussels off the rafts. A twelve kilowatt generator provides power for this barge as well as backup for the Flupsy.
The tumbler is used to grade and tumble our product. Once a month the oysters are put through the tumbler to break off the new growth.
Oysters with new growth at beginning of the tumbler
And below at the other end, tumbled oysters with clean hard shells.
Tumbling to break off new growth enables the oysters grow a deeper cup and a thick, hard shell.
A grading attachment is used on the end of the tumbler to sort the oysters into different sizes. Sorting into sizes allows maximum growth and consistent product size.
This is a view inside the tumbler with different size screens attached along the bottom to grade oysters.
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