‘World class’ - Popular Waterford enterprise celebrates 35 years in business

A popular Waterford enterprise is celebrating 35 years in business this year.

Waterford Oysters began as a fledgling Dungarvan food production enterprise in 1990.

In the 35 years since, it has developed into an international supplier which has carved out a niche in many premium global markets.

The company has exported its produce to Hong Kong, China, Malaysia, the UK and France, among other countries.

Clíona Mhic Giolla Chuda, manager of Waterford Oysters, said that the company’s products are particularly popular in France.

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“France is the de facto oyster capital of the world. It’s the market targeted by every oyster grower and it’s a particularly discerning clientele which only wants the best shellfish on its plate,” she commented.

Ms Mhic Giolla Chuda, who is a member of the IFA’s aquaculture committee, went on to outline the challenges the company faces.

“On a good year, we harvest between 400 and 500 tonnes but obviously farming presents many consistently evolving challenges and that output is never guaranteed.

“We constantly have to manage and overcome many obstacles, meaning that sustaining the health and prosperity of our oysters over that three and a half year life cycle requires a huge amount of hard work.”

While extreme weather, licencing, rising overheads and water quality all pose difficulties for the business, Ms Mhic Giolla Chuda cited the loyalty of their staff as the company’s greatest asset.

“There’s no ‘wet pay’ for oyster farmers but we love what we do and the people we meet along the way. That gives us the motivation to get up every morning and love our work,” she concluded.

The company also highlighted the benefits their products can have on the environment, labelling oysters “climate heroes”.

Each oyster filters approximately 190 litres of seawater daily, removing nitrates and plankton to clarify the water column.

This allows sunlight to reach the seabed, enhancing photosynthesis as well as promoting the growth of seagrass and seaweed habitats.

It takes three and a half years to bring an oyster from a seed weighing one fifth of a single gram to 100 grams.

Waterford Oysters grows Pacific oysters which are particularly rich in zinc, copper, iron, iodine, as well as vitamins B12, D and essential Omega 3.

The company has a full-time workforce of 15 people and operates from its coastal base at Móta, An Rinn, in the Gaeltacht near Dungarvan.