Why live tanks are the future of oyster storage - The Fish Site

Posted: 22 Jan 2021 12:59 AM PST

Ask most battle-scarred oyster farmers where the best place to store their oysters is, and they'll tell you the same water that they're grown in. Obviously. But younger farmers are changing their tune.

Four years ago, Ewan McAsh, the co-founder of SmartOysters*, wouldn't have dreamt of keeping his stock anywhere but the river. But after installing his first live tank in 2016 he became a convert. There are now three tanks in operation on his farm and he plans on adding seven more in the next 12 months.

"It's been so successful for restaurant and online sales that we are now planning to tank store all our sales. At the moment we're only able to tank store 30 per cent of our oysters. Once we add the extra tanks, we'll be able to store a lot more," he says.

"I was sceptical at first, but what eventually made me get one was when it dawned me that if these tanks are good enough for high value species such as lobster and abalone, and they are what it takes to deliver a high value seafood product, then it's worth giving them a punt."

Each tank holds 1,000 dozen oysters and uses UV light and carbon filters to keep the water clean. The system also keeps the temperature at a pre-determined level. For Ewan's oysters that's around 12 °C. At that temperature, the oysters are still breathing, but not feeding, so are essentially having a rest after being harvested and can be kept there for 8-12 weeks without impacting their quality.

The biggest advantage is that oysters can be harvested when the conditions are right, rather than to order. Other advantages include giving farmers sales-ready inventory when a weather event shuts down the river, saving time by removing double-handling and making smaller, retail orders a possibility. Challenges include the capital outlay and having the right infrastructure in place so that the tanks end up being a good investment for your business.

Wet storage capacity

"When you're farming and dealing with the natural environment, wet storage is a way of having a lot more control over the harvest and sales. You harvest in the right conditions and store the oysters to have a sale-ready inventory, which leads to better cash flow, less handling and easier farming," McAsh explains.

"Farming, especially on the water, is challenging. Being able to harvest and store stock just makes life easier. We have more quality, sale-ready product, which allows us to consistently supply our customers and also be more responsive to customer orders.

"During the recent floods we would have lost $20,000 in revenue and risked losing our market position. Originally, I would have thought, 'It's OK, the oysters are still safe in the water. When we reopen, we'll be able to sell them,' but if you lose those weeks you don't ever get them back. Having the oysters on hand minimises revenue loss and creates far more stable cash flow.

"At the end of the day, the aim of the game is to sell oysters. Wet storage gets them that much closer to the customer. The tanks retain their quality, if we can't sell them that day, we can store them in premium condition. It's money in the bank."

Inventory of sale-ready stock

The traditional business model is harvesting to order. Live tanks created a new business model for McAsh's farm.

"We are able to capture something at a certain quality and size, and then find a market for it. Often, you won't have a sale for a certain size oyster and you put it back in the river, but then it has to be processed again. The tanks mean you can keep them until you have a sale," he points out.

"The other strategy is to harvest and try and sell what you harvest, but then you risk becoming a price taker. If you are less reliant on selling that day, then you can find a premium market for it.

"Without wet storage you're either harvesting to order or selling what you harvest. You're choosing between doing more work or taking less for your work."

Creating a new market

Pre-Covid, McAsh's business was supplying oysters to restaurants. When restaurants closed, he suddenly lost his customers, so he had to pivot hard. Having the tanks full meant he could go after the retail customer who only wanted three dozen rather than a hessian sack full of product.

"It was as simple as selling them in a box with a flyer, oyster knife and lemon. Before live storage, we couldn't see how it would be cost-effective but then Covid happened. It was life changing in that we very quickly created a new market for our oysters, one that was more profitable than the original market," he reveals.

"We went from 0 per cent online sales and 100 per cent restaurants to 60 per cent online. The business is selling oysters and having them in the tanks and ready to go is the final step before you get paid."

Capital outlay

A live tank costs about AUS$40,000 and, while it sounds expensive, McAsh puts it in perspective.

"It's no more than the ute [pick-up truck] you use on your farm. You spend years growing oysters and this helps you turn that time and energy into dollars. A tank can hold up to $15,000 worth of oysters, 1,000 dozen, so if you get an extra dollar a dozen it quickly pays itself off," he explains.

*Smart Oysters is part of Hatch's portfolio, but The Fish Site retains editorial independence.

Texas State Aquarium Not Hampered by COVID Protocols - 101 Corpus Christi

Posted: 14 Jan 2021 01:29 PM PST

Texas State Aquarium Experience Not Hampered by COVID Protocols

Liko, Schooner, Kai, and Shadow, four bottlenose dolphins in Dolphin Bay at the Texas State Aquarium, are early risers. Courtesy photo

By Jane Kathleen Gregorio

January 14, 2021

The Texas State Aquarium in Corpus Christi is the largest aquarium in Texas, ranks No. 4 in USA Today's Top 5 Aquariums in North America 2020, and has been nominated as Best Aquarium in North America by a panel of experts in 2020 for the 10 Best Readers' Choice Award. Best of all, it is COVID-19 compliant, open for families, and safe to visit as we all struggle with pandemic protocols.

The aquarium did close at the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020, but staff quickly researched safety measures and adapted them to reopen in May. All of the aquarium's favorite exhibits and shows are back. Changes include purchasing tickets online, wearing a mask inside the facility, and keeping socially distant from groups not your own.

WHAT YOU'LL SEE

The aquarium is split into two exhibits, one that explores the wildlife of the Gulf Coast and its newest addition, a 71,000-square-foot exhibit that explores the Caribbean Sea and Mexico's Yucatan peninsula. The Caribbean Journey allows visitors to feel immersed in the jungles, seas, coral reefs, coastal lagoons, and other geographic sights of the area. The jungle level features flamingos, crocodiles, birds, bats, a sloth, and other species, all in an open-floor exhibit. No cages or wires stand between visitors and the wildlife that make their home there.

Two of the most popular free-roaming residents of the Caribbean Journey are its sloths, usually found hanging around on a tree limb doing — well, not a whole lot. Staff are on hand to get you up close and personal with Xena and Chico throughout the day.

In the Coral Reef and Blue Hole exhibits on the bottom floor, you can walk through a shark tank, where the immense creatures swim all around you. Pet the stingrays and count the hundreds of colorful fish swimming in gigantic tanks. Scuba divers feed at certain times of the day. Check the schedule online.

The sharks are housed in a 400,000-gallon tank, complete with a life-size replica of a shipwreck. Sharks are viewed from a 68-foot-long display window, the longest in North America. Walk among the sharks through an acrylic tunnel.

A dining room with expansive windows looks out over the Caribbean Jungle exhibit, Corpus Christi Bay, the USS Lexington, the marina, and the downtown area on the top floor. It can be rented for private events, including weddings or corporate gatherings.

Next door, the Whataburger 4D theater puts viewers right in the movie action with amazing special effects.

The aquarium's exhibits contain otters, octopuses, sea turtles, seahorses, crocodiles, hermit crabs, and raptors, including an American bald eagle.

The resident stars of the aquarium live in Dolphin Bay: Liko, Schooner, Kai, and Shadow. These four bottlenose dolphins put on daily shows and can be viewed throughout the day both above and below the tank. Take the sloping walkway under Dolphin Bay to see the dolphins cavort under the sea.

Bring the family to pet jellyfish, sharks, and stingrays! An aquatic nursery shows a jellyfish incubator in action.

The Texas State Aquarium focuses on education as well as entertainment and provides virtual classes, distance learning programs for homeschooling, camps, overnight visits, and story times all promoting science, technology, engineering, and math education.

The aquarium also plays a major role in conservation through its Wildlife Rescue and Recovery Center, which rehabilitates and, when possible, returns wild animals of land, sea, and air to their natural habitats.

COVID COMPLIANCE

In compliance with the governor's face mask order, the Texas State Aquarium requires all employees and visitors above the age of 10 to wear face coverings both indoors and outdoors and to maintain social distancing. Employees must also wear face coverings. Team members working directly with guests will wear gloves.

Hand-sanitizing and hand-washing stations are available throughout the venue. Surfaces including handrails, exhibit viewing windows, restrooms, and elevators are disinfected regularly.

The number of guests allowed to visit at a time is limited. Online ticket and parking purchases are requested — and recommended — to ensure admission. Members will continue to receive free admission.

The Validation Kiosk and Information Desk have a clear acrylic partition installed with an opening in the acrylic to validate paper tickets, electronic payments, and membership cards.

Strollers for rent and complimentary wheelchairs are sanitized before and after use.

Visitors follow a dedicated, one-way flow throughout the aquarium.

During spring and summer seasons, the H-E-B Splash Park is open. Café Aqua and Shoreline Grill transaction points use a clear acrylic partition for safe transactions. Shoreline Grill will have no indoor seating.

The Weston's Library is closed until further notice.

Bathrooms are accessible throughout the aquarium and physical distance is encouraged while accessing them.

The Gulf of Mexico Family Restroom and Dolphin Bay Underwater Restrooms are closed to limit access to high-touch surfaces.

The Texas State Aquarium is located at 2710 N. Shoreline Blvd. in North Beach, Corpus Christi.

For more information, call 800-477-4853 (GULF) or 361-881-1230 and visit texasstateaquarium.org.

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