Oyster aquaculture provides a food source for many countries by harvesting oysters. There are several species of oysters cultivated including the Pacific, Eastern, Sydney Rock, and European Flat oysters. Oysters are hatched and grown through various stages as planktonic trochophore and veliger larvae before settling as spat. They are then grown out on bottom reefs, suspended ropes, or in bags attached to racks. Oysters feed naturally on phytoplankton and clean water while providing nutritional benefits to humans. Production requires optimal water temperature, salinity, and protection from fouling organisms and predators.

1. Oyster Aquaculture
Melissa Long

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

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

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:
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:
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
– Extensive culture

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: 25-30 ºC
• Salinity: 10-22 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
– (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
http://www.mrc.state.va.us/Shellfish_Aquacu
lture.shtm
http://www.chesapeakebay.net/fieldguide/cri
tter/eastern_oyster
http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?
record_id=10796&page=100