Mariculture for the Benefit of Oysters: The U.S. Sea Farming Capabilities

Along the Atlantic coastline oysters have been a lucrative item of sea farming as early as the 1600s. In fact there were times when Chesapeake bay workers were able to harvest as many as 10-million barrels of oysters each year. In modern times, with Baja, Calif. as another major producer, oyster farms are still unable to keep up with the supply and demand of its by-product pearls, for U.S. sales.

Importantly, the issue is with oysters, they are not only edible and rejuvenate minerals and vitamins for other marine life, they are also the primary producers of pearl gems. As it stands present day, France, Japan, Australia and Holland operate and harvest some of the most progressive oyster farms. More farms include the Persian Gulf, Gulf of Panama, South Sea Islands, West Indies, Mexico, and Baja. Calif., one of the larger in the U.S. After setting on a suitable ocean floor advanced mariculture has led to artificial collection to facilitate harvesting. However, without a controlled setting such as utilized in the case of farming, the bluepoint oysters found along the coasts in the U.S. , both Pacific and Atlantic, are exposed to large consumptions by shore birds, over fishing, encroachment and pollution.

Classified by marine scientists as mollusks or shellfish, these unique treasures are in the same family as clams. Not only a seafood product and builder of the everlasting pearl, oysters often serve as a concave for the tiniest of crabs. The shell of the oyster, mostly made of calcium, builds itself into the most elaborate patterns, uniform color bands in one direction, layers of shell in rings in the other creating an overall checkered appearance. Formations of mini-oyster reefs create bay water filtration, food for sea life and offer fun activity for hobbyists and knowledgeable groups along the shorelines. Oysters can be grown in a float near your dock for a mini-harvest in much the same way people grow container herbs, dwarf fruit trees, or trays of mushroom kits indoors. Before taking on such a project it's important to inquire if a permit is needed to harvest oysters. Usually bay foundation organizations, commissions or marine life museums have some specifics to answer inquiries. Lately and notably, some of the bay states have enough people gardening oysters to compare it with home gardening, i.e., as many as two-thousand people who stay in Virginia. Oftentimes the possiblity of sea farming has been exposed to the public and politicians as a resource of the future. Interestingly enough, the farming of oysters has been around for centuries. Then some of the categories to keep in mind for growing oysters are: food cycle for ocean plants, sea life and people; also for pearls, natural barriers and seascape.

Writing from a vantage point of New England, I've realized some very notable oyster farming is done from Milford, Norwalk, New Haven and Westport, Conn., Massachusetts and Chesapeake Bay areas, Long Island Sound areas, abounding in Rhode Island including Newport. Some of the notable associations are dealing with pollution due to boating issues. Keep in mind not only are native oysters the issue, also keep in mind the clamming and the collection of bay scallops. These are all shellfish and when salt-water farming associations bring up issues of pollution, it isn't just one kind of mariculture.

Currently in Connecticut, as much as $15-million worth of oyster farming business is done annually. Although the oyster business revenue is dropping, the private and family farming has developed with access of cultivation information. The first part of this business to decline notably has been pearl production, partially because the making of pearls is more prolific in warmer water. Presently, most pearls are imported from Japan; colors from different farms around the world include white, cream, pink, blue, rose and black pearls. Mother of pearl is also of nacre material produced by oysters naturally.

Unable to keep up with the popular of demands for pearls, the mass-production of artificial glass pearls has been used as a substitute . In order to find out how you can help, visit an oceanside habitat museum or contact Restore the Oyster or RTO.