Small Oyster or Mussel Farm

Restaurants, seafood shops, wholesalers, farmers' markets and locals buying direct.

You sell by the dozen or by weight. Direct sales to restaurants and customers pay more per piece than wholesale, but need more of your time.

• Comfortable working on the water and in cold weather
• Physical, hands-on work
• Selling and building restaurant relationships

• Aquaculture licences and site tenure differ by province, so check with your provincial regulator and DFO
• Food safety rules and shellfish harvest area classifications, check with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency
• Shellfish take a long time to reach market size, so plan cash for the wait
• Commercial general liability and boat insurance
• Storms, ice, algal blooms and closures can interrupt harvests

Startup costs are estimated at typically around $20,000 to $100,000, depending on your site, boat, gear and how much stock you seed. Shellfish take a long time to reach market size, so plan cash to cover the wait.

Estimates suggest monthly revenue of typically around $1,500 to $8,000, depending on harvest volumes, the species you grow and whether you sell to restaurants, shops or direct. The estimate assumes at least about 20 hours a week. Revenue is before costs and tax.

Check aquaculture licences and site tenure with your provincial regulator and DFO, as these differ by province. Also check food safety rules and shellfish harvest area classifications with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, and insurance for liability and your boat. Storms, ice, algal blooms and closures can interrupt harvests.