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What is an Oyster Farm?

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

An oyster farm is a facility where oysters are raised and harvested for food. The practice of farming oysters for food and pearls dates back to Roman times, when these bivalves were widely cultivated all around the Mediterranean to satisfy the Roman appetite for oysters. The cultivation techniques used have not changed very much since this period, with oyster farms being located along the shorelines of many of the world's oceans.

In some cases, an oyster farm is established in an area where oysters live naturally. The oyster farmers focus on increasing the oyster population, using a variety of techniques to deter natural predators. Oyster farms can also be established from scratch by “seeding” with baby oysters which will settle onto the rocks and eventually grow. Periodic reseeding is used in both natural and artificial farms to ensure that the oyster population remains large and healthy.

Oysters can be farmed successfully and sustainably.
Oysters can be farmed successfully and sustainably.

Several different types of oysters can be cultivated in an oyster farm, including Pacific oysters, Sydney rock oysters, and Eastern oysters. The environmental impact of an oyster farm is often positive, as long as it is well managed. Oysters are filter feeders, so they will scrub the water, keeping it fresh and clear. In some regions, oyster farms are actually established specifically for environmental cleanup, with the oysters being kept on the job instead of eaten.

Oyster farming is used to cultivate pearls.
Oyster farming is used to cultivate pearls.

However, oyster farms can cause environmental problems. Many oyster farms are fenced or otherwise secured to deter predators, which can interfere with the free movements of marine animals like fish and otters. The use of motorboats to maintain the oyster farm can also become a problem, with the boats disrupting the natural environment. Some environmentalists have also expressed concerns that oyster farms choke out native mollusk species, and that oyster farming can also interfere with the human enjoyment of the water.

Ingesting contaminated shellfish may cause paralytic shellfish poisoning, a condition that leads to temporary paralysis of the limbs.
Ingesting contaminated shellfish may cause paralytic shellfish poisoning, a condition that leads to temporary paralysis of the limbs.

Despite legitimate environmental concerns, oyster farming is usually viewed as a positive activity, especially when oyster farmers manage their oysters sustainably. Oyster farming is one of the oldest forms of aquaculture, and some people have suggested that oysters may be among the oldest of domesticated animals, with the oyster farms of Roman times being a descendant of even older aquaculture techniques. Whether or not this claim is true, oysters certainly remain perennially popular, and the products of oyster farms can be seen on ice at many fish counters and harbor markets.

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a WiseGEEK researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a WiseGEEK researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

Sporkasia

Imagine what the world's oyster population would be without the oysters produced by farming. It has been estimated that over 35 million pounds of oysters are eaten each year in the United States alone. This number increases considerably when you add in all the other countries where people eat oysters.

In addition to humans, oyster populations have to survive other predators, including stingrays, birds, and certain fish and snails. Oysters are also vulnerable to certain diseases, which can further reduce the overall population.

Laotionne

Until reading this article, I had no idea that the ancient Romans had established oyster farms. I thought the practice had been developed during the 20th Century.

Anyway, the environmental problems surrounding oyster farms, such as the ones mentioned in the article, do concern me, but since the farming has been around for so long I think that maybe the benefits outweigh the negatives.

I have also read that oyster farming improves the quality of the water where they are raised. This benefits other organisms living in the area, so I guess there are some positives and some negatives in terms of the environment and oyster farming.

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    • Oysters can be farmed successfully and sustainably.
      By: M.studio
      Oysters can be farmed successfully and sustainably.
    • Oyster farming is used to cultivate pearls.
      By: teena137
      Oyster farming is used to cultivate pearls.
    • Ingesting contaminated shellfish may cause paralytic shellfish poisoning, a condition that leads to temporary paralysis of the limbs.
      By: lassedesignen
      Ingesting contaminated shellfish may cause paralytic shellfish poisoning, a condition that leads to temporary paralysis of the limbs.