An Oyster Life (Blog) — Aquaculture

Spring is in full swing and life everywhere is blossoming–even under the water! If you follow us on social media, you may have seen Tom doing some quick videos recently on our growing operations on the farm. We thought it would be helpful to follow up with a little more in-depth look at how oysters reproduce. Oysters are bivalve mollusks that belong to the family Ostreidae. They can be found in various marine environments, including estuaries, bays, and intertidal zones. In the wild, oysters are broadcast spawners, which means that they release their eggs and sperm into the water column,...

Have you ever sat down to eat oysters only to find yourself confronted by one of those funny little forks you typically only see in the movies? Have no fear, the oyster fork is here. While we prefer slurping oysters fireside with some good friends, sometimes the situation dictates that you enjoy your oysters in a more dignified way. In fact, the oyster fork has a storied history and has been used for centuries. The Origin of the Oyster Fork Ancient Rome The ancient Romans were known for their love of oysters and had a unique tool to eat them,...

Oysters are amazing creatures that have the ability to rebuild ecosystems, survive harsh storms, and fend off predators. They are beloved by many for their versatility in recipes and for their role in the health of the Chesapeake Bay. There are many interesting facts about oysters that can be shared at an oyster roast or any other occasion.

Being on a farm, I tend to look at things by the season. Right now we are in the season of building. Planting today, to bear fruit tomorrow.  Although this time of year the oysters themselves are not growing, we are investing to further our mission of growing the highest quality oysters possible.   We have been doing this in a couple of strategic ways…. Since September we have been steadily adding more cage capacity to our farm. By doing this, we have increased our farm size by over 30%.  What this does is allows us to grow more oysters while...

Myths vs. Facts Few creatures on earth are as steeped in myth and legend as the oyster. For centuries, this humble mollusk has been the subject of tall tales, folklore, and superstition. But what is the truth behind these oyster myths? Let's take a closer look at some of the most popular oyster myths and see if we can separate fact from fiction. Myth #1: Oysters are an aphrodisiac One of the most persistent myths about oysters is that they have special powers when it comes to love and lust. The history of oysters as an aphrodisiac stretches back to...

Everyone has an opinion about oysters. Whether you love eating them or not, it’s hard to deny their amazing impact on the areas where they’re grown. Unlike a lot of other animal agriculture, oysters actually help reduce emissions and the overall burden on ecosystems. This is due to the fact that they don’t produce methane during their digestive cycles.  Unfortunately, oyster reefs are declining globally. For example oysters in our area, the Chesapeake Bay used to be so large that they would occasionally sink ships. Now, they have receded to the point that many farms and conservation groups, including White...

The Chesapeake Bay is an amazing place and since our creation, we’ve made it our goal to work to help to build the bay and help support the ecosystem and region that gives us so much. Oyster farms like ours benefit the Chesapeake Bay in a number of ways. First, we’re able to create jobs and bring revenue to the region. Farmed oysters are also responsible for filtering micronutrients out of the bay, preventing hazardous algae blooms, and cleaning the area’s waters. Lastly, recycled oyster shells can be used to create artificial reefs which provide habitat for many other species....

The oyster and its pearl are a combination known around the world. However, many people don’t know exactly what causes an oyster to form a pearl. Oysters are not the only mollusk that can form pearls– clams and mussels do it as well, but much less frequently. The formation of pearls by oysters is a biological process, the oyster is actually protecting itself from a foreign substance. In order to understand how oysters make pearls, it’s important to first understand the basics of their anatomy. Oysters are bivalves, which means their shell is made of two parts, the valves. The...