Being part of the BC Food Hub Network, The Dock+ is a shared 17,000 sq ft. space, with a commercial kitchen, owned by the Port Alberni Port Authority at Fishermen’s Harbour.
PORT ALBERNI – B.C. is strengthening its position in global seafood and food innovation by expanding its Food Hub Network and advancing The Dock+.
Major investment has expanded The Dock+ to support growth and its processing technology. The BC Food Hub Network includes 12 regional hubs that support food and agriculture businesses. These hubs offer shared commercial kitchens, processing equipment and technical expertise. They help companies move from concept to production and reach new markets. Each hub reflects the needs of its region. This flexibility allows businesses to access services that match their stage of growth.
The Dock+, in the Vancouver Island and Coast region, is one of the most active hubs in the network. It is a 17,000 square foot shared space with a commercial kitchen. The facility is owned by the Port Alberni Port Authority at Fishermen’s Harbour, and it provides start-ups and small businesses with space, equipment to grow their business.
The Dock+ received a major investment in June, 2024, when the B.C. Ministry of Agriculture and Food approved a grant that secures more than $4 million for expansion. The application was submitted with Nova Harvest Ltd. and Huu‑ay‑aht First Nations Fisheries LP. The provincial contribution of $2,995,786 will expand the facility by 3,000 square feet.
This investment supports the development of a seafood hub in the Alberni Valley, which is intended to help more small businesses grow and create new economic opportunities. It will also strengthen local food security by increasing processing capacity for regional producers.
The expansion includes High Pressure Processing technology (HPP), which improves food safety and extends shelf life. It also supports new product development.
Photo credit: Effingham Oysters
Eight businesses currently operate out of The Dock+, including Effingham Oysters, a producer with farms in Barkley Sound. The company originally used the shared facilities to increase processing speed and deliver high quality oysters to customers.
Effingham Oysters worked closely with Nova Harvest, which supplies millions of seed oysters each year. Nova Harvest operates its processing plant at The Dock+ and is known for science-based innovation in shellfish aquaculture.
Effingham Oysters has expanded, and after receiving support from the British Columbia Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund, the company moved from The Dock+ into a larger building, then outgrew that space as well. It is now preparing to build a new 1,000 square metre processing plant. Its processing work supports its own farms and other local farms and it supplies oysters to local restaurants.
Effingham Oysters sponsors the Tofino Oyster Festival and sells to the B.C. public through Eat Canadian Seafood in Port Alberni, Codfather’s Seafood in Kelowna and to Lower Mainland restaurants through Wild and Live.
Canadian Seafood Processing, also owned by the Effingham Oyster owners, now occupies the former Effingham Oysters space at The Dock+. The company buys and processes sockeye, chinook, chum, prawns, shrimp, lingcod and halibut. Its workforce grows to more than 40 local employees in the summer.
The company received support through the British Columbia Rural Economic Diversification and Infrastructure Program in partnership with Hupacasath First Nation, along with an emergency preparedness grant. It uses trucking backhauls for efficient transport and produces ice on site. Onsite processing increases product value because work begins while fish is being offloaded.
Canadian Seafood Processing has delivered fish to Toronto within 24 hours of landing it and has paid local fishermen 50 to 100 percent more than comparable salmon runs in 2025. This helped Port Alberni salmon runs generate an additional $3 million over comparable sockeye runs and the previous five-year average.
Effingham Oysters plans to expand into ASEAN markets. The company has exported to Singapore and Malaysia before and is now positioned for broader growth with support from Trade and Invest B.C. Effingham Oysters has been invited to join the B.C. Pavilion at Food and Hospitality Asia 2026. Prospects look favourable as demand for B.C. oysters continues to rise.
The Dock+ expansion aligns with the Port Authority’s mission to support marine commerce and will create 15 full time positions. The project will reduce costs, improve distribution and expand cold storage. It will also increase processing capacity and enhance food safety.
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