BIONOVATIONS INC
Live Seafood Holding and Transport Systems

Clients

Delivering Live Seafood to the World

Our core business is providing transportation and storage solutions for the live seafood industry at all points along the supply chain. Our core products have been the Traystor® TS1 and Traystor® TS3 brand of live seafood holding systems. Our first generation holding systems are currently installed and operational in 20 countries worldwide. Our newest products, the Traystor® Crate, Traystor® Purge System, Traystor® Holding System, Traystor® Distribution Centre, and Live Seafood Transport System are capable of holding and transporting large quantities of live seafood with low mortality rates and with the lowest carbon footprint in the industry.

Locations of BioNovations systems currently installed around the world.


OUR VISION...

A lorry rolls to a stop at its destination in N’djamena, in the Central African country of Chad. Its 25,000 passengers have travelled 15,000 kilometers across the Atlantic Ocean and along Trans-African Highway 5 through West Africa. The controlled environment inside our Live Seafood Transport System has been home to these North American lobsters for the past 11 days. The cool, aerated saltwater circulating through the integrated filtration system, the fresh filtered air, and the consistent cool temperatures have made them feel at home despite the stifling heat now rippling from the asphalt beneath the lorry.

The passengers are unloaded by forklift while still in their Traystor® Crates in which they made their long journey from the cold waters of the North Atlantic. The crates are quickly whisked out of the transport container and into a Traystor® Distribution Centre to avoid the hot African sun. Inside they are stacked in a climate controlled room where clean manufactured seawater circulates through the Traystor® Crates. A wireless sensor attached to the outside of each crate automatically uploads all tracking and sensing data collected over the journey to provide complete traceability to the buyer, the shipper, government regulators, and to provide assurances for the future end consumer that the food is safe to eat. A quick scan of the barcode on each crate reveals the quantity, size, and weight of its occupants and provides instant inventory control for the Distribution Centre.

When the time is right, these tiny travelers are selected and delivered to a restaurant along Avenue Charles-de-Gualle where they are placed into a Traystor® display tank from which the Chef can fetch them as needed to serve up the live seafood difference to an appreciative patron.

We see this scenario playing out every day in every city around the world – in Europe, the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Australia. Thousands of Traystor® Crates filled with nutritious live seafood and fitted with wireless sensors for complete traceability, crisscrossing every ocean and every continent on the planet in BioNovations’ Live Seafood Transport Systems; destined for Traystor® holding facilities in every major distribution hub, supermarket, and restaurant around the globe.


Testimonials


"We purchased and are now using BioNovations Traystor Crate storage system for lobster. We started installing it in 2020 during Covid, Joe and the team were able to find solutions for some manufacturing that had closed during the outbreak and worked hand and hand with us to make sure we could put lobster into storage as our spring season started off quite poor. Lobster weren’t moving and without this extra storage we would have had to store lobster in the harbour for weeks and would have been looking at losses and unwilling buyers. We made sales because our lobster were in a controlled environment as exporters stayed away from lobster stored in harbours as much as they could. The Traystor Crate system and BioNovations really saved us in 2020.

We have lobster now in storage doing very well and the system lets us use the warm water in St. George’s Bay to make up a little bit of water when we need to but it is mostly running off water run through biofilters that consume the ammonia. We are happy with the system and our door is open to anyone who wants to have a look."

-Paul van de Wiel
Manager of North Bay Fisherman’s Co-op
Antigonish, Nova Scotia


“Our Oyster wet storage system from BioNovations allows us to store oysters in ideal conditions during the winter months which reduces the labour involved with harvesting oysters in the winter. We have successfully stored oysters from November to April with little to no mortality. The thing we like best about this system compared to other wet storage systems is the amount of product you can store per square ft. of building size.”

-Aaron Sweet
Owner and Operator of Sweet Oyster Company
Prince Edward Island, Canada


“The Arisaig Community Development Association realized in 2019 that the existing Arisaig Lobster Interpretive Centre had outgrown its location.  A new building was constructed and in the planning of this new building, conversations with BioNovations started and Joe worked closely with our group in what would meet our needs in the new Centre.  With Joe’s expertise it was decided that Joe would provide us with a TS1-250 Stand Alone Live Seafood System and auxiliary Touch Tank.  Both were installed in April, 2023 for our opening in May.  Joe and his team spent a great deal of time with us ensuring everything was set up and operating correctly.  If we had questions, we received answers in a very timely manner.  These systems have suited  our needs and the 7000 guests who have visited us from May-September. 

We are very fortunate to be able to rely on BioNovations to lead us through any difficulties we may have.  This has been a great learning experience and without BioNovations knowledge and expertise it would be a different story.

The Arisaig Lobster Interpretive Marine Life Centre look forward to our continued success with the systems we have in place and our relationship with BioNovations.”

-Kate Bechler
Operations Manager of Arisaig Marine Life Interpretive Centre
Arisaig, Canada


"BioNovations has been a great investment for my company.  After purchasing the TS1-1000 LIVE Seafood Holding system my mortality rates have dropped significantly.  I am able to keep lobsters longer and healthier thanks to BioNovations!! Furthermore,  Joe has been a great help from startup to any problem that has risen since purchasing the tank 2 years ago."

-Michael Frizzell
Owner and Operator of Mike’s Island Market
Prince Edward Island, Canada


"With very limited space, we needed a unique solution to expand our live lobster holding capacity. We brought an existing tank and an idea to BioNovations and they retrofitted their system to our equipment allowing us to expand our live holding space without impacting our existing operation or space. Being a custom job, our system came with some unique startup challenges but the BioNovations team was amazing every step of the way to get us up and running quickly. Our BioNovations system has been one of our best purchases and we highly recommend their product and service."

-Shane Campbell
Owner of Water Prince Corner Shop
Prince Edward Island, Canada


"We started using BioNovations lobster tank about ten years ago.  At the time we were moving about 500lbs per week of live lobsters. We now move about 2000lbs per week and we have very little dead loss.  I don’t think we run lobsters through the tank the way it was designed. Meaning, we are turning over the inventory every 1-2 days.  This puts a tremendous strain on the systems design and it still gets the job done. The filtration system would work much more efficient if we held the inventory for a longer time, keeping the ammonia level more consistent. We have been impressed given the constant level of incoming and outgoing product, the quality of water maintains all of the requirements.
We have moved warehouses three times and each time I have broken down and setup the system myself.  It’s very easy to breakdown and setup. Through these moves, I have often needed help, had questions, or needed additional supplies.  Rose has always been available by phone or email. It’s probably time for us to expand to the next size system!"

-Brent A. Lessman
V.P. of Seafood Sales, G. Cefalu & Bro., Inc. / Capital Seaboard
Maryland, USA


“We purchased our lobster tank 4 years ago when we expanded our business. The system works perfect for our needs. Any questions or concerns we had were answered very quickly and without issues. I would recommend this system to any food business.”

-Reggie Jamieson
Manager, MR Seafoods
Prince Edward Island, Canada


"The service that I have received from BioNovations is top shelf. While I was learning how to work this system, I could call at anytime and receive the help and answers I needed right over the phone. Joe, Rose, and Tyler were always available and willing to help. The follow up that BioNovations provides after the purchase is excellent and I highly recommend this system and this company."

-Gail Tupper
Natural Resource & Environment Officer, Glooscap First Nation
Hantsport, Nova Scotia


"We have now had your lobster keeping system in for 18 months ,and over this period we have not had any problems what so ever. Your instructions for assembly were clear and concise and all labelled correctly. Whenever we have needed advice you have followed up immediately with the answer or remedy. Over the past 18 months we have increased our lobster sales by 300% ,and our customers have all reported that the quality is perfect. The mortality rate is 0%, if good lobsters go in, better lobsters come out! We at Hodgson Fish would be pleased to recommend BioNovations to anyone."

-Peter Hodgson
Owner, Hodgson Fish
United Kingdom


"Hi-Gear Seafood started off with a TSI-250 tank. This tank was bought in used condition and needed a rebuild before being put into service. We contacted the manufacturer, BioNovations, and they were very helpful not only with providing needed parts but also lots of good advice. Once that project was completed we started looking at their much larger systems for our growing business. In the end we went with the TSI-2000 system. It arrived on time and was easily assembled in less than a day by two people, apart from the wiring and refrigeration. It took a while to get the biofilter going but this was entirely due to the fact that we were on a steep learning curve.

Joe was very good with technical tips and words of encouragement and eventually we got it right. The first system was such a success that we have recently installed a second TSI-2000. This one was up and running very quickly as we have learned the tricks involved with getting the biofilter to cycle mostly thanks to Joe and Rose. We really like the “plug and play” aspect of BioNovations systems.

The components are durable and the overall look is clean and professional which is important for our application as we serve retail as well as wholesale customers. Hi-Gear Seafood highly recommends these products. They represent a straightforward way to grow your live seafood business in a cost effective manner."

-Tim Webster
President, Hi-Gear Seafood
British Columbia, Canada


"I am really happy that I bought my TS1-500 from BioNovations Inc.. This is a company who cares about their customers and you can rely on them 24 hours a day."

-Dimitar Spasov, ET
Sofia, Bulgaria


"Homarus is a Polish company which provides live lobsters to the Polish market. To preserve live lobsters we are using BioNovations Inc.'s TSI-500 and stand alone biofiltration units. Over the years we have been supported by Joe Boudreau and his team with their expert know how and excellent post sale services. It is real pleasure to know that we can always count on BioNovations' team and on their reliable storage tanks."

-Wojtek Polaczek
President of Homarus
Poland


"We enlisted the expertise of BioNovations Inc. to design and construct three recirculating lobster brood tanks in an effort to improve overall production at the Northumberland Fisheries Museum’s lobster hatchery.  The entire team at BioNovations has been invaluable; providing continuous support and assistance in every way asked of them.  As a result of using their live seafood holding systems, we have been equipped with the ability to suitably stagger batches of berried lobsters, so that lobster larvae production is more effective and efficient.  We will now be capable of raising and releasing more lobster larvae to the Northumberland Strait.  The quality of the service and product we received from BioNovations was second to none.  We are proud to support such an outstanding local business and would certainly recommend BioNovations Inc. to others who are considering purchasing one of their systems."

-Jennifer Feehan
Northumberland Fisheries Museum, Lobster Stock Enhancement Research Project
Nova Scotia, Canada


"We purchased our BioNovations Live Seafood Holding System a number of years ago and to our amazement the electricity cost went down because of adding the highly efficient insulated tanks made of food grade virgin plastic from BioNovations.  
In addition, the lobster is kept in trays which minimizes their movements and lowers mortality and heat transfer from the lobsters. The trays allow faster inventory control and the tanks hold up well and still look brand new! Bionovations have been interactive and thoroughly answered any questions or concerns immediately. Joe Boudreau continues to implement new ideas and better ways to operate the system. 
The efficiency and reliability of BioNovations' system has allowed us to increase our capacity to three times of what we originally started with. Thank you BioNovations for making our live seafood industry a success!"

-Darrell and Teresa Brodrick
President of Lobster Harvest
Texas, USA


"The Bionovations Lobster holding system ticks all the boxes for lobster vendors like us. Rock solid equipment and excellent after sales service" 

-Jim Foster
Owner of Pelican Seafood
Ottawa, Canada