How to Grow Oysters

If you have access to a private dock or beach on the ocean or nearby estuary, you may be able to raise oysters and become an aquaculture farmer. Some people raise oysters to help the environment, some for personal consumption and others to sell commercially. You'll find that doing a few minutes of maintenance per month during their growing season will help oysters thrive.

Things You'll Need

  • Oyster larvae (seed)
  • Empty recycled oyster shells
  • Mesh bag
  • Cages/wire or oyster float
  • Fish tank
  • Aquarium heater
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Instructions

    • 1

      Note whether the dock or beach to which you have access has barnacles, blue crabs or sea nettles nearby (indicating the right salinity level) and is covered by at least four feet of water year-round. If so, you may be able to successfully raise oysters.

    • 2

      Add the oyster larvae to a tank of estuary water and gradually raise the temperature to 80 degrees Fahrenheit using an aquarium heater. Add a mesh net full of recycled oyster shells and wait two days. Gradually lower to ocean temperature, and lift the net out. The baby oysters have now attached to the shells.

    • 3

      Move the baby oysters (spat) in their net to the breakwater and secure them to a pier or oyster float. About once a month, clean out any debris from the mesh. After one two months to one year, the oysters can be moved to cages or attached to an oyster float to mature up to three more years. Cages and floats will need to be cleaned out monthly during oyster growing season (May to October).