A West Coast shellfish farming company will be using a new high-tech machine to shuck oysters faster than any human.
Nova Harvest, owned by the Huu-ay-aht First Nation near Bamfield, is getting a high-pressure processing press from Swedish manufacturer Quintus Systems. It can process oysters, separating the meat from the shell, faster and more efficiently than any manual process, and also has food safety benefits.
Nova Harvest President J.P. Hastey says Canada has “incredible potential to increase output from his aquaculture” and the new machine will help support the continued development of the nation’s shellfish industry.
Nova Harvest produces shellfish seed for other farmers to use, and also operates several farms. The new machine will be installed next May.
BC produces more than 46% of Canada’s oysters.