ENGLISHTOWN, N.S. — Robin Stuart has won a lifetime achievement award for his work in the aquaculture industry but that doesn’t mean his contributions have ended.
At 69, Stuart remains as active in the industry has always and is now working, among other projects, on a study led by researchers from Cape Breton University that could result in a return of the Bras d’Or Lake oyster industry.
“I am always interested in the challenge of something new,” said Stuart, during a recent interview.
The oyster project is something Stuart is very familiar with as he was among the first to try his hand at farming oysters in St. Anns Bay back in the early 1970s when Devco was making attempts to diversify the island’s economy.
Such a development was crushed thanks to a microscopic parasite called MSX (multi-nucleated spherical unknown-X) or its name, Haplosprodium nelsoni.
When discovered in the Bras d’Or Lake, restrictive measures were implemented preventing oysters from being moved from the lake. However, oyster production fell by about 80 per cent.
The research project is hoping to find out the environmental limitations of the parasite and the factors involved in the progression from infection to disease to mortality.
As a pioneer of the industry, Stuart recalls discussions in the early days about farming everything from Irish moss to clams along with salmon and trout.
“I am always interested in the challenge of something new,” — Robin Stuart
Stuart said those early developments once saw as many 1,700 oyster rafts in the Bras d’Or with as many as two million oysters being hauled annually.
“Those were the days when most didn’t know or even heard of aquaculture,” said Stuart.
The most recent honour of the achievement award, presented by the Aquaculture Association of Nova Scotia, noted Stuart’s significant and sustained contributions to the industry.
Born in England, Stuart came to Canada with his family as his father was with the British navy before signing on with the Canadian fleet.
He and his wife, Janet, have four children — three sons and one daughter — and eight grandchildren.
He attributes his love of the water to his ancestors noting he comes from a long line of seafaring individuals.
Farming or mining the seas is a concept that has long intrigued Stuart and it has been his life’s work.
“I like the practical science of such work,” he said.
Stuart also operates a consulting company for others wanting to enter the business or learn best practices.
He wasn’t the only one from his small community to win an award this year for contributions to the industry.
Scott Dockendorff of Bounty Bay Shellfish was named aquafarmer of the year for his mussel operation in St. Anns that last year produced over three million pounds of product.
