The recent winner of the Canadian Oyster Shucking Championship at the Tyne Valley Oyster Festival will receive provincial support to compete in the world championship competition, says Fisheries, Aquaculture and Rural Development Minister Neil LeClair. Eamon Clark will represent Canada at the 2010 World Oyster Shucking Championship to be held in Galway, Ireland in September.
“Events such as the Canadian Oyster Shucking Championship allow us to make connections with restaurants and retail outlets across Canada and build demand for Prince Edward Island oysters,” said Mr. LeClair. “It is great to see such interest in participation in the competition from oyster shuckers across Canada, and I am confident that Mr. Clark will represent Canada and Prince Edward Island well in the world competition.”
Clark, who works at Rodney’s Oyster House in Toronto, successfully defended his title by shucking 18 oysters in a total time of two minutes and seven seconds. The runner up was Bob Skinner who works at a restaurant in Vancouver. A total of 31 shuckers from across Canada competed for the national championship, hosted by the Tyne Valley Oyster Festival.
Mr. LeClair said the provincial government provides ongoing support to the oyster industry to promote its products. Through the oyster development program, the department is also assisting the industry to improve the quality and quantity of oysters produced in the province. There are more than 1,000 active oyster fishers and growers in the industry whose production accounts for more than $6 million in landed value.