About Us
How it began
Maritime Oysters NB was started by Reno Jaillet, who first began oyster farming in 1989 in the Bay of Bouctouche.
He joined a local group with 150 oyster fishermen who fished on ice during the winter in the Bouctouche Bay. But things began to change as the government started investing in aquaculture.
Some of the fellow fishermen went to France to learn their oyster farming system, hoping to bring it back here. But it wasn’t a perfect fit. They discovered that it wasn’t quite suitable for the climate and temperatures.
There was no ice in France!
But they didn’t let that stop them! With trial and error, the aquaculture fishermen group develop a method of farming oysters in their natural environment and temperatures.
The First Time Oyster Fishing
The story of Maritime Oysters NB starts with Reno, who was 11 when he went oyster fishing for the first time with his dad. He was hooked, and by 1989 he had started farming oysters and doing the processing out of small garages. He now has a full-fledged processing facility that produces millions of oysters and employs 21 people.
When he started, he never dreamed it would one day become a thriving business with over 20 employees and a processing facility capable of producing millions of oysters each year. But his work ethic is still rooted in those early days when they were doing everything by hand: hard work, passion for what they do, and an unwavering dedication to providing great tasting oysters from start to finish.
Reno has always been passionate about seafood and maritime culture. A lifetime spent in the bay has taught him to appreciate the beauty and value of New Brunswick’s coastlines—and it’s given him an intimate understanding of what it takes to preserve them for future generations.
If you have any questions or inquiries, please reach out to us.
