How They’re Grown

Aquaculture oysters are grown in cages, in bags on racks, in floats and spat-on-shell bottom planting. Oysters grown in cages/racks/floats are generally destined for the more lucrative half-shell market, while spat-on-shell oysters are usually grown for the shucking market.

Cultured oyster production can be viewed as a 3-step process – hatchery; nursery; and grow-out to market size.

The first step begins onshore in a hatchery, where adult oysters are encouraged to spawn and produce baby oysters.  During this hatchery stage, oysters of all ages (broodstock, larvae, and post-set juveniles) are fed a diet consisting primarily of cultured micro-algae and then a mixture of cultured algae and natural algae.

6 days ago

Virginia Seafood
Virginia Seafood will be featured on Outdoor Channel's The Fishmonger. Two episodes will be aired highlighting the commercial seafood industry in Virginia with the air dates of 6/19/23 and 7/3/23. The broadcast times for both episodes will be 9:30 p.m. Check our website, Virginiaseafood.org, for updates and continue supporting your local commercial watermen. ... See MoreSee Less
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