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ISLAND SCALLOPS
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT


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COMPANY BACKGROUND

Island Scallops Ltd. was established in 1989 to develop the hatchery technology for producing Japanese scallop seed for cultivation in British Columbia. Once commercial scallop farming was underway, the focus of research expanded to include new species with potential for culture (e.g. geoduck clam, sablefish, sea urchin, and abalone) and established aquaculture species (e.g. Pacific oyster, Manila clam, and blue mussel).

Company projects have included selective breeding (e.g. a "golden" strain of the blue mussel) and hybridization (e.g. the "Pacific" scallop) for producing more marketable, disease-resistant, or otherwise desirable strains. Development of improved rearing methods for Pacific oyster larvae have resulted in a product we now guarantee will set.

Projects have also involved designing and constructing new technology for the aquaculture industry (e.g. a plow-like machine for planting geoduck clam seed on the ocean floor). As a result, Island Scallops has accumulated a diversity of R&D technical skills and innovative culture facilities to offer the aquaculture industry.


FACILITIES

Island Scallops' facilities located near Qualicum Beach on the east coast of Vancouver Island, BC, represent the largest private marine research operation in Canada. Onshore facilities include:

  • 1000 square meter shellfish hatchery
  • 600 square meter marine fish, sea urchin and abalone hatchery
  • outdoor nursery and phytoplankton facilities with a volume totalling over 2.0 million liters
  • environmentally-controlled broodstock maturation facilities
  • government-approved quarantine facilities for exotic species
  • innovative larval rearing facilities
  • extensive phytoplankton and zooplankton culture facilities
  • fully equipped laboratory and workshop

Other facilities include ocean farms comprising 87 hectares of deepwater area and a bottom farm 375 hectares in area, the first of its kind in British Columbia.


SPECIES

The focus of research and development at Island Scallops was originally the Japanese scallop (Patinopecten = Mizuhopecten yessoensis)), but has since diversified to include several other species such as the:

  • Geoduck clam (Panope abrupta)
  • Manila clam (Tapes philippinarum)
  • Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas)
  • European flat oyster (Ostrea edulis)
  • Eastern blue mussel (Mytilus edulis edulis)
  • Weathervane scallop (Patinopectin caurinus)
  • Sea urchin (Strongylocentrotus spp.)
  • Abalone (Haliotis kamtschatkana)
  • Spot prawn (Pandalus platyceros)
  • Sablefish, or blackcod (Anoplopoma fimbria)
  • Pacific halibut (Hippoglossus stenolepis)

In addition, Island Scallops has successfully hybridized the Japanese scallop with the local weathervane scallop to produce the "Pacific" scallop, which is now marketed throughout North America.


POTENTIAL FOR COLLABORATION

Several research and development projects at Island Scallops have been carried out in collaboration with individuals or private companies. Hatchery facilities and expertise are available for designing and constructing new technology for the aquaculture industry, or producing species new to aquaculture. Quarantine facilities allow species from around the world to be bred at the Island Scallops hatchery for farming in other areas.

We welcome the opportunity to work with new ventures and the challenge to work with new species. For more information on how we can work with you to meet your R&D needs, please contact us at:

5552 West Island Highway, Qualicum Beach, B.C. V9K 2C8, Canada
Phone: (250) 757-9811
Fax: (250) 757-8370
Email:
info@islandscallops.com


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