Scallop farming is an environmentally sustainable industry and cultured scallops are an all-natural product. Scallops require clean, rich waters to grow. They feed themselves by filtering the natural microscopic food. No chemicals or fertilizers are added to the ocean, and the farms create habitat for fish and a myriad of other marine organisms. Scallop seed is produced at the hatchery in Qualicum Beach and reared in the ocean in small net cages attached to horizontal "longlines". The longlines are submerged about 10 m (20 ft) below the surface in water about 30 m (100 ft) deep. Only a few floats hint at the location of the subsurface farm. From hatchery to harvest takes about three years.