Local Food

The B.C. Oyster Trail: Coastal Farmers to Source Local Shellfish

These shellfish farms on the B.C. oyster trail supply the province's best seafood restaurants.

By Sandrine Jacquot /

Today marks the end of Oyster Week at our sister publication, Vancouver magazine, and we knew we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to jump on a themed bandwagon. For our contribution to the oyster bonanza, we took a step back to look at British Columbia’s oyster trail—where all your favourite seafood restaurants get their local oysters fresh directly from the suppliers.

B.C.’s waters are prime for oysters and shellfish, with the right nutrients, cool temperatures and calm waters, especially between Vancouver Island and the mainland. Most of the B.C. oysters (there are many kinds farmed here in B.C.) do come from the eastern coastline of Vancouver Island and the Strait of Georgia broadly, with some farms on the Pacific side of Vancouver Island, too. Hotspot areas for oyster farming have historically been Baynes Sound, Cortes Island and Okeover Inlet, according to the BC Shellfish Growers Association (BCSGA).

Oysters are some of the most sustainably produced proteins. British Columbia farms 46 percent of Canada’s oysters, according to the BCSGA. So, let this non-exhaustive list (we’d be here for hours if we included every shellfish harvester and fishery that farmed oysters) be your guide to the best spots around the province to get B.C. oysters directly from specialized farmers.

1. Baynes Sound Oysters

Baynes Sound Oyster Co. is a seafood farmer, wholesaler and distributer in Union Bay on Vancouver Island (in Baynes Sound, of course). Baynes Sound Oysters Co. farms Baynes Sound oysters (also known as Komo Gway oysters) that have a briny taste and slightly sweet finish. Baynes Sound Oyster Co. also sells other seafood products like clams, salmon, scallops and pickled herring.

2. Effingham Oysters Inc.

 

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Located in the Effingham Inlet in Barkley Sound on the Pacific side of Vancouver Island, Effingham Oysters grows the Pacific oyster variety with a buttery finish. From petite 2′ oysters to large 6′ oysters, the owners of Effingham Oysters also operate a local, affordable seafood shop called Eat Canadian Seafood.

3. Evening Cove Oysters Ltd.

Andrew Dryden founded Evening Cove Oysters in 2000 after completing various practicum placements on the island while studying aquaculture and fisheries at university. Based in Nanaimo, Evening Cove Oysters sells Manila clams along with shucked Pacific oysters, beach oysters and tray oysters all year round.

4. Fanny Bay Oysters

Credit: Kristi Alexandra

Fanny Bay Oysters, part of the Taylor Shellfish Farms company, has several farms including Baynes Sound on Vancouver Island and Desolation Sound on the Sunshine Coast. Fanny Bay Oysters isn’t just a farmer and wholesaler, Fanny Bay has a tide-to-table oyster and shellfish bar in Vancouver where customers can try their oysters directly.

5. K’awat’si Shellfish Company

K’awat’si Shellfish Company is an Ocean Wise certified and recommended producer, practicing sustainable seafood production. The company started as an initiative of the K’awat’si Economic Development Corporation (KEDC) for the Gwa’sala-‘Nakwaxda’xw Nations on northern Vancouver Island. K’awat’si Shellfish cultivates the GwiGwi oyster, named after the Baќwam word for oystercatcher bird.

6. Mac’s Oysters

 

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The McLellan family’s Mac’s Oysters is a natural shellfish farm on the shores of Fanny Bay, Vancouver Island. Mac’s harvests deep water oysters (with varities like Metcalfe Bay, Pearl Bay, Sinku and Summer Ice), beach harvest and beach hardened oysters, along with different clams. Aside from working with vendors, oyster lovers can purchase freshly shucked oysters at the ground floor of its packing plant.

7. Paradise Oysters

Also in the Baynes Sound, Paradise Oysters produces over 150,000 dozen oysters a year using a “flupsy” method (a floating upwelling system), working with the oysters from seeds until they’re ready to harvest. These oysters have a sweet brine and light citrusy finish, pairing well with white or bubbles.

8. Sawmill Bay Shellfish

 

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Family-owned Sawmill Bay Shellfish uses naturally occurring ocean feed to farm its oysters. Located off Quadra Island, Sawmill Bay has sold directly to restaurants for over 15 years now and now has various oyster products for sale online for customers. Plus, right now Sawmill Bay is offering free shipping across Canada for all smoked and canned oysters.

9. Stellar Bay Shellfish Ltd.

Stellar Bay Shellfish’s processing plant is only five kilometres from its farms, reducing transit time for the shellfish. Located off Baynes Sound on Vancouver Island, Stellar Bay Shellfish produces Stellerbay Golds and Chefs Creek varieties, but it’s the kusshi oysters that stand out.