New barge helps oyster farm grow

Jul 22 2008 by Karen Dent, The Journal

A BARGE capable of operating on land and sea is revolutionising work at the North East’s only oyster farm.

Lindisfarne Oysters, based between Ross, near Bamburgh, and Holy Island, has also invested in new grading and purification equipment as it looks to boost output from 2,500 oysters a week to 3,000 and offer daily deliveries.

The business, run by husband and wife Christopher and Helen Sutherland, supplies Pacific rock oysters – known as gigas – to hotels and restaurants in Northumberland, Newcastle, Edinburgh and London, as well as to the public via mail order.

The new French-built barge – called the Sea Turtle and partially funded by the Marine and Fisheries Agency – has wheels so it can be pulled by tractor along the mudflats or used in the water near the oyster beds.

Along with a new grading machine capable of sorting oysters by size and improvements to the road between the farm and sea, the barge means the farm is able to work more efficiently.