1. Oyster Aquaculture
Melissa Long

2. Taxonomy Eastern Oyster European Flat Oyster Pacific Oyster
Crassostrea virginica
European Flat Oyster
Ostea edulis
Pacific Oyster
Crassostrea gigas
Sydney Rock Oyster Saccostrea glomerata

3. Market Price: $3/ 1lb of meat
Economic Importance:
Oyster aquaculture has provided a business for harvesting oysters as FOOD source for many countries
Market Price: $3/ 1lb of meat
Market locations:
United States
China
Korea
Japan
France
Countries:
United States
China
Japan
France

4. Life Cycle and Larval Stages
Fertilized egg develops into a:
planktonic trochophore larvae (free swimming)
Then develops into veliger larval stage (swimming)
Then develops into pediveliger larval stage (swim and crawl)
May spend about 2 weeks in larval stage
before they metamorphose by settling
into a “spat”
Once the oyster finds the appropriate
habitat it uses cement secreted from a
gland in the foot to attach permanently

6. Reproduction in Captivity
Some oysters are protantrous hermaphrodites
Start out life as a male and most will change into a female
Oysters may be placed in separate containers for selective breeding
Eggs and sperm can be collected and distributed to the containers
Or males and females may be left together to mass fertilize
Sperm triggers females to release millions of eggs

7. Production Methods: Hatchery: Nursery: Adults: induced to spawn
Larvae: fed algae until they are ready to set
Once larvae is ready to set, it is placed
in upwellers that contain crushed shells
Nursery:
Spats are placed in nurseries to grow and
harden

8. Production Methods Growout: Cultch set oysters are grown:
Where oysters can grow to maturity
Cultch set oysters are grown:
On the bottom in reefs
On ropes suspended off the bottom
Extensive culture
Single oysters are grown:
In bags that are attached to racks with several layers

9. Feeds and Feeding
Oysters feed on naturally occurring phytoplankton and detritus
No feed input

10. Water Chemistry/ Environmental Requirements
For optimal growth and induce spawning:
Water temperature: ºC
Salinity: ppt

11. Advantages
Oysters clean the water, remove nitrogen, accelerate denitrification, enhance water clarity
No feed input
Nutritional value for humans:
Highest concentration of zinc of any food
Very high in vitamin B12, iron, selenium, phosphorus, and magnesium
Tastes great!

12. Disadvantages Fouling organisms Predators Compete for space and food
(such as parasites)
Compete for space and food
Restrict water movement and transportation of food
Predators
(such as crabs and oyster drills)
Must expose oyster to air to avoid predation

13. Even though a pearl oyster is different…

14. Resources http://www.bayoyster.com/farming.html