Development of tools to evaluate American Oyster Crassostrea virginica shelf life

Description

Oysters continue to be popular seafood enjoyed by many. Because raw oysters in the shell are living organisms, they need to be stored under optimal conditions to avoid rapid loss of quality. Growers in Atlantic Canada have indicated that there are seasonal variations in oyster shelf life. Previous studies have mostly focused on traditional winter markets without considering how harvesting time and other husbandry practices associated with aquaculture may affect the oyster shelf life. This research will focus on the development of tools or techniques to:

1. determine shelf life of C. virginica; and
2. predict oyster shelf life prior to storage.

Program Name

Aquaculture Collaborative Research and Development Program (ACRDP)

Year(s)

2011 - 2013

Ecoregion(s)

Atlantic: Gulf of Maine, Scotian Shelf

Principal Investigator(s)

Daniel Bourque
Email: Daniel.Bourque@dfo-mpo.gc.ca