Fish and oil aren't the only treasures off the shores of Newfoundland.

A St. John's chef has begun harvesting sea salt from the waters off Bay Bulls in eastern Newfoundland.

Peter Burt of the Newfoundland Salt Company said there's no reason an island in the middle of the ocean should have to import salt.

“I just saw a void,” he said. “There's nothing wrong with our water. Why aren't we doing this?”

He said salt hasn’t been traditionally produced on the island because of a lack of sun power but now, with the help of technology, he is able to produce it.

Burt uses a rapid boil method to make the salt — 300 litres of seawater gives him 15 kilograms of salt. He said it takes two days to boil down the water.

He said his colleagues from around the world have complimented him on the product.

“Table salt is harsher ... If you can get down to really tasting it, you can almost taste the water. It has some moisture content.”

Burt said he will be selling his salt at the St. John’s farmers market.