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.

1 week ago

Virginia Seafood
This year the VMPB is thankful for Virginia’s commercial watermen, women, and aquaculture growers who provide us with Fresh and Local Virginia Oysters during Virginia Oyster month and throughout the year as well. For more information on Virginia Oysters go to our websites VirginiaSeafood.org and VirginiaOysters.org for Oyster facts, receipts, and a directory of retailers in your area. Happy Thanksgiving from the VMPB! ... See MoreSee Less
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