Some Perspectives on Oyster Cultivation

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Some Perspectives on Oyster Cultivation

• Doug McLeod
• Ex
• Chairman, Scottish Shellfish Growers Assn
• President, European Mollusc Producers Assn
• Chairman, UK Sector Skills Council Aquaculture
  Committee
• Oyster grower in NW Scotland

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Overview

• The global context
• China stats techniques
• Europe stats techniques
• Major issues for growers (here, there, everywhere)

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World bivalve production 1970-2005
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World bivalve production by country, 1950-2005
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World bivalve production 1950-2005
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World bivalve aquaculture production, 2005
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Share of aquaculture and capture by species, 2005
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World bivalve exports by species, US,1976-2004
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World oyster exports by product form, 1976-2004
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World exports of oysters by country, US,
1976-2004
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World imports of oysters by country, US,
1976-2004
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Exporting

• Limited volumes involved especially for oysters
  2004 estimates
• Mussels 275 mt (16 of aquaculture prodn)
• Scallops 80 mt (6)
• Clams 80 mt (1.9)
• Oysters 60 mt (1.3)
• Total c. 500 mt

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Breaking into international trade

• Requires a combination of critical factors
• - Availability of excess product
• - Competitive pricing and transport systems
• - Farmers organisations/co-op and/or trade
  associations and/or large scale corporate to
  offset cost penalty of small scale operations
• - Access to agents in target markets
• - Regulatory systems that satisfy importing
  market requirements

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The New Zealand Experience

• 1990 2005
• Oysters (C. gigas)
• - Production rose from
• 1,500 T to gt2,500 T
• - Exports increased from 1,300 T to
• gt2,000 T (around 80 of production)

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Oyster cultivation - Natural seed supply -
Rapid growth cycle
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While in China .

• Mollusc production increased from lt 2 MMT in 1990
  to 9.5 MMT in 2005
• Over the same period, exports rose from 5,250 T
  to 46,500 T
• - ie from 0.2 to 0.5
• Essentially China absorbs all its domestically
  produced molluscs (and imported gt6,000 T in
  2005)
• Will this situation continue? Or is there an
  avalanche of molluscs about to impact upon world
  trade? Or will China expand its imports to
  satisfy domestic demand?

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Oyster (C. gigas) A Main
Species of shellfish cultivated in China

• Oyster
• Crassostrea gigas

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Shellfish Mariculture Production (MT 2004)
Mariculture status of China
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Suspended culture in shallow water

• Main culture species
• macro algae kelp, lavea, Undaria spp,
• Shellfish Bay scallop Argopecten irradians,
  Japanese scallop Patinopecten yessoensis, Native
  scallop Chlamys farreri, Pacific oyster
  Crassostrea gigas, mussel and abalone)

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Sea ranching or shallow sea bottom culture

• Main species
• Shellfish native scallop, Japanese scallop,
  clam, oyster, snail, abalones.
• Sea urchin and sea cucumber.

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Polyculture
Polyculture of shellfish (oyster, scallops,
mussels) and kelp - based on carrying capacity
of culture site
Oyster Crassostrea gigas
Kelp Laminaria japonica
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Some prices of seafood in China

• Sea Cucumber
• Dried 3000-4000 Yuan/kg (AU475-635/kg)
• Fresh 120 Yuan/kg (AU20/kg)
• Abalone
• Dried meat 1500-2000Yuan/kg (230-315/kg)
• Fresh with shell 200-300 Yuan/kg (30-45/kg)
• Japanese scallop
• Fresh with shell 20-40 Yuan/kg (3-6/kg)

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Total EU seafood consumption by volume 1997
2002 (000 tonnes)
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The European Oyster Sector

• Major producer is France estimates range from
  c. 100K Tons to 175K Tons but a statistical
  quicksand with political overtones!
• Other EU production is limited, with marginal
  volumes from Ireland, Spain and UK
• But market situation is improving, eg, revival in
  UK
• Live product is viewed as high risk by food
  safety regulators so regulation is major issue
  for growers
• Biotoxin events also major constraint on the
  sector

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France Consumption Highlights

• Largest seafood importer in Europe
• Annual consumption 1m tonnes
• Unprepared shellfish accounts for largest of
  total consumption, followed by finfish and
  crustaceans
• Leading consumer of salmon in Europe
• Sales of processed seafood is growing
• Consumption of seafood out of home is growing

Seafood consumption by format ( volume)
Consumption of key species (tonnes)
Canned (16)
Fresh (47)
Frozen (28)
Prepared (9)
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Oyster Production Techniques

• Dominated by traditional bag trestle culture
• Majority (85) of French output uses this method
• Despite domination of foreshore in many areas,
  limited environmental objection
  (tradition/culture)

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Oyster Grower Issues

• Assessing market demands Live/Raw? Fresh?
  Prepared? Processed?
• Water quality micro, other contaminants
• Regulation for water quality (virus standards)
• Biotoxin event management
• Competition for coastal space/access
• Transport other infrastructure issues
• Export support

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Issues 2

• Special situation currently in Europes largest
  producer
• - Abnormal mortalities (summer 2008) in spat,
  seed and juveniles
• - Ranging from 40 - 80
• - From Channel through west coast to
  Mediterranean
• - Seed/juveniles from both capture and
  hatchery
• Environmental factors/viruses blamed but either
  way, nightmare scenario for farmers!
• But, potential market opportunity for 2010!!

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Conclusion

• Its not easy being an oyster farmer!
• - Market uncertainties
• - Water quality issues
• - Regulatory conditions/management
• - Biotoxin events/management
• - Environmental lobby concerns
• - Rising fuel costs
• - Distance from markets
• - Financial constraints

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Conclusion 2

• These limiting factors weigh heavily on our
  sector, restraining the growth of an industry
  that produces nutritious food, from natural feed
  sources, with marginal environmental impact
• But despite all of the above, global production
  continues to grow clearly, oyster farmers are
  special!!

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