When the oyster seed is ready to leave the hatchery they are placed in grow-out cages and floated in South Harbour. The oysters will remain in the cages until they become market sized oysters in four to five years.
If you are in the area looking for fresh seafood on Cape Breton Island, you can enjoy our Aspy Bay Oysters at the HIDEAWAY CAMPGROUND & OYSTER MARKET. We will shuck your oysters and serve them with a variety of condiments at the Oyster Bar located in the Camp office. Free shucking lessons available. When in season Atlantic Snow Crab and Atlantic Lobsters are also available.
Looking for fresh seafood on the Cabot Trail? Aspy Bay Oysters, Lobster and Snow Crab are available when in season at Hideaway Campground and Oyster Market
Born in Cape Breton, Alex Dunphy has lived on South Harbour, 3km south of Cape North, his entire life. Alex, his wife Susan & their four sons’ have been involved in the oyster industry since 1985. With a growing demand for high quality product, the Dunphy’s trademarked the name “Aspy Bay Oyster”.
Over the past several years the Dunphy’s have built an oyster Hatchery to help increase the oyster stocks here in South Harbour.
Mature broodstock oysters are brought into the hatchery in February where they are held in tanks with sea water mantained at 20c. Algae is grown to feed the boodstock oysters for 4 to 6 weeks or until they are ready for spawning.
