Oyster Farming-How to Start an Oyster Farm
An important but slightly challenging sector of aquaculture is oyster farming. The farming method has ancient roots and popular in France, Italy and England. Historical data can be traced to 1st century BC ancient Romans on the Italian peninsula. And the origins of modern oyster farming started with Hyacinthe Boeuf.
Interestingly oysters can live for 30 years and are sequential hermaphrodites. The business is challenging and difficult to control and there are so many variables especially theses farmed in natural condition. Here are some ideas on how to start an oyster farm.
Challenges
The major challenges are environmental issues, and predators. Others include dealing with pests and certain diseases. The main predators are crabs, birds, stingrays. Others are drill snails, starfish and humans. The two major infections or diseases are MSX and Dermo.
- environmental issues
- predators
- pests
- certain diseases
- infections
- diseases
Selecting the Right Species to Farm
The selection process will determine the success or failure of the farm. The criteria should be based on meat content and shell depth. Others are disease resistance, fast growth rate and adaptability to the location.
- meat content
- weight
- shell depth
- disease resistance
- fast growth rate
- adaptability to the location
- rabbit farming
Types of Growth Systems
The farming methods are diverse and interesting. The farmer needs to develop the technique and perfect a particular growing system. Common systems are the suspended culture, traditional bed and bottom culture system.
Inter Tidal Long Line System
We also have the inter-tidal long line system. This is a suspended method where baby oysters and mature ones set on them. They are then inserted into the strands of a rope.
The shells are then spaced out and rope stretched along the ground. The area should be low tide and ropes supported about above the ground. This instigates faster growth than the mud system. The major disadvantages include competition with other sea life and unpredictability of tidal waves.
The Suspended System
The suspended system is similar to inter-tidal system. However the oysters are placed in nets or trays and suspended in sub tidal waters.
The Rack and Culture System
The rack and culture system involves plastic bags supported above ground on steal racks. This is to enable water flow around the oysters. The system is very effective at preventing predators like crabs. The bottom culture is when the oysters are allowed to grow on the ground of intertidal regions.
Types of Oyster Farming Culture Systems
- bottom culture system
- rack and culture system
- suspended system
- inter-tidal long line system
Oyster Cultivation
To cultivate oyster the broostock should be cultivated. Broodstock provides gametes to larvae and spawning is carried out simultaneously. Prefect natural conditions for growth are blackish water or estuarine bodies.
By separating the ripe oysters the farmer can mimic ideal conditions. Farmers are able to simulated all year round spawning. To achieve this farmer needs to build a recycling system that allows the introduction of a diversity of phytoplankton.
They manipulate temperatures of heat and cold to induce spawning in ripe oysters. The water quality is tailored to particular species the farmer wants to spawn. The usual practice is to separate a large number of ripe oysters and place in the system. This is because determining the gender is slightly challenging.
Once spawning commences the sperm and eggs are fertilized through mixing. Then the fertilized larvae are the fed cultured algae. It is important maintaining clean water in the system.
They should change the water every two days to prevent foreign organisms competing with the oyster larvae. Once they develop an eyespot they are ready to set. Oysters generally attach themselves to surfaces so the farmer provides a clutch or substract.
They are put in the system, clutch and start to mature properly. They can mature naturally or the spat are placed in bags to retrieve matured oyster during cultivation.
Another method is placing the spat in a clutch or artificial maturing tank. The salinity and temperature are altered and the seed are feed prepared water for accelerated growth. This method is very effective but highly expensive.
Mud Planting Technique
The young oysters are packed in bags and placed in a cage system to bulk up the nursery. The cages rest at the bottom of the designated bay for about 3 months. Then Oysters of certain age are removed from nursery and scattered in a bay area.
They are left to grow for two years then harvested from the bottom of the lake with a rake system. The farmers then pick the big ones with well rounded shape and discard the weird looking ones.
Types of Oysters Farmed
There are five popularly farmed oysters. We have the southern mud oyster and eastern oyster. Others include Sydney rock oyster, pacific oyster and Belon oyster.
- Mud oyster
- Eastern oyster
- Sydney rock oyster
- Pacific oyster
- Belon oyster
Growing Area for Oyster Farming
There are many things that determine a suitable site for oyster farming. Apart from government zoned locations the site needs to conform to serious environmental issues.
The growing area is determined by environmental impact on oysters. Unsuitable areas locations are those that have storm water runoff, sewage or industrial pollutants.
Commercial farmers are mandated to monitor the level of bacteria contaminants, phytoplankton species and geotaxis in the location. During floods the banks should not be exposed to wave action or tidal currents.
Problematic areas are those with shifting sands because such conditions damage the oysters. The currents should supply the oyster’s adequate water and ensures rapid growth, proper nutrients.
If the farmer considers an off shore area it should be close to land facilities. Other consideration when choosing a land is accessibility to ready market or processing area.
Permit
Based on the land use criteria stipulated above the authorities would determine suitability of the area. They also have harvesting criteria and provide restrictions appropriately.
Challenges include fattening areas or spat production areas. Another determinant is the culture methods. Oyster farming is lucrative however the farmer needs lots of patience.