How to Start an Oyster Farm

If you want the world to be your oyster, and your idea of the perfect appetizer is oysters served on the half shell, you’re a candidate for oyster farming.

Yes, oysters can be raised to harvest in unique farms at the edge of the sea. Hey, the ancient Romans did it! And they didn’t have the aquaculture technology that exists today.

Cultured oysters are most often raised on coastal farms. They prefer brackish, warmer waters, which is a mix of salt water and fresh water.

Investing in Oyster Farming – Learn the Basics

Your best bet for learning how to start a farm is to reach out to your state’s coastal Agricultural Extension office. That’s where you’ll learn how to make money farming oysters.

Nearly all the east coast states (Delaware’s is pending) offer workshops. For this type of farming, you’ll need to learn and comply with state and federal regulations.

Another basic and tough truth to learn is that you’ll be waiting for your profit. Getting oyster farms set up requires significant capital, as you need equipment that will control the temperature and salinity of the water. Raising the oysters to harvest can take five years.

You’ll need a top-notch business plan if you don’t have ready cash and want to borrow your startup funds. This can be one of the best options for those interested in learning how to start farming with no money. Note that the market is expected to increase by about 5% annually in the US.

Other stats to whet your interest – 83% of oyster farmers earn more than $100,000 a year.

The Benefits of Oyster Farming

• Helps Native Populations – Beginning in the 1870s, oysters suffered from overharvest. Oyster farming is restorative because it helps relieve pressure from native populations.
• Positive Impact on the Environment – Oysters can help the ecosystem by stabilizing sediment and recycling nutrients in the water column.
• Clean Water – A single oyster can filter 2,496 liters a day.
• Healthy to Eat – Oysters are high in Omega 3 fatty acids and low in cholesterol.
• Restoration Projects – The most-commonly raised species, the Pacific oysters, have played a key role in the Chesapeake bay restoration project while being sustainably raised and harvested.

The Basics of Farming Oysters

1. The steps to get a permit for oyster farming vary by state. The best source of information about that is the local Agricultural Extension office. The most common species raised are Pacific oysters.
2. Location and water management are extremely important. Farmers need good water quality to grow high-quality oysters. Oysters grown in substandard water will be substandard in taste. Through the state, farmers can lease water by the acre.
3. The farmer sets up a nursery tank system with recirculating water. The farmer must be able to manipulate the temperature and salinity of the water, which is easier in the summer months. The farmer must also provide food. In the wild, oysters eat phytoplankton. In farms, oysters are raised using filter feed systems or cultured algae.
4. The broodstock oysters are put on a tray in water. The water is rapidly cooled and heated so that they spawn, and the oysters release gametes. Eggs and sperm are mixed together for breeding to fertilize them. Fertilized eggs become larvae.
5. As part of cultivation, larvae are fed using filter feeders or cultured algae daily. In two weeks, the young larvae oysters develop a small, round discoloration which shows they are ready for the next step. The larvae are then called Spat.
6. The farmer has two choices for raising the oysters. The Spat can be placed in tanks that provide “Cultch” options or objects which they can attach, such as old oyster shells. Or, they can be raised as “Seed” and allowed to develop their own shells. They must be kept below the surface, even at low tide. Oyster growth only occurs when they are underwater, not when exposed to air.
7. The Spat or Seed can be kept in rack forms, bags or cages, which are kept above the bottom of the water, but below the surface at low tide. Or, they can be put in an artificial maturation tank to accelerate growth to market size.

Diversifying Your Oyster Farm Portfolio

1. Pearls and Mother-of-Pearl

You won’t get pearls from Pacific oysters or other species raised for food. Pearls are actually calcium carbonate spheres grown by some species.

2. Oyster Shells

When an oyster shell breaks or is no longer going to be used, the shell pieces can be sold. An oyster shell with its basic white color is ground and used in landscaping and even as a driveway surface.

3. Other Marine Crop Farming

In the same regulated environment that’s best for oyster growers, you can also raise seaweed (seaweed can be raised for food or medicinal use), sea vegetables, and shellfish such as mussels and clams. A shellfish crop can be sold to restaurants and is a great backup to help a business owner handle fluctuations in the oyster market. Those interested in other types of fish farming may require additional space for those species. For example, if you want to learn how to start catfish farming, you may keep that venture separate from your oyster farm.

Harvesting Time – Tips and Best Practices

Oysters are harvested by workers on foot or in a boat, depending on the water level of the land. . In deeper waters, a boat must be used. Here are general tips:

• If on foot, begin with proper footwear. Oyster shells can be sharp.
• Wait for a few days after heavy rain to give the oysters time to filter any undesirable minerals or nutrients.
• Make sure each oyster is alive.
• Harvest of farmed oysters can be done by hand, with the humans using a hammer or tongs to break the oysters away from their beds and each other. The harvest crew will drag baskets behind them, towing the harvested oysters in the baskets, which float.
• Harvest methods for farmed oysters also include mechanical dredging. Mechanical dredging is most often done from a boat.
• Harvested oysters don’t have a long shelf life and must be kept cool to maintain quality and taste. If harvested in the summer months, extra steps must be taken to keep them cool.

Market Research – Analyzing Profitability and Sustainability

Oyster beds are a key part of the health of the ocean. When oyster farmers create an ideal marine environment for their growth, they are helping native populations continue recovering from overharvesting.

Helpful FAQs

How many oysters can you farm in an acre?

You can grow 750,000 oysters in one acre.

What species of oysters are the best to grow?

According to marine sciences experts, the best species are members of Crassostrea Virginica, or Atlantic oysters. The best to grow are Pacific, Eastern, Belon, Sydney Rock and Southern Mud oysters.

Is oyster farming difficult?

After significant capital investment, raising oysters to market size takes time. During that time, the oysters can fall victim to certain diseases. They can also be killed by predators such as starfish, oyster drill snails, stingray fish, stone crabs and birds.

Where are most oyster farms located?

The majority are located on the East Coast and in California.

Image: Envato Elements

This article, "How to Start an Oyster Farm" was first published on Small Business Trends