![]() That, combined with the endorsement of Smith and others trusted by watermen, led to the cooperative's formation. The industry has made numerous advances in the last decade, most notably developing more disease-tolerant oyster seeds, that have made aquaculture a more viable option. Many watermen have resisted calls to abandon the centuries-old hunter-gatherer approach in favor of oyster farming, also known as aquaculture. They are at less than 1 percent of their peak historic population. "I've never seen 12 people so excited in my life," said Smith, chief operating officer of the cooperative, which will officially unveil its plans Thursday at The Watermen's Museum in Yorktown.Ĭhesapeake oysters have been plagued for decades by disease, loss of habitat and pollution. Profits from the program will pay the watermen's salary, fund the purchase of new equipment, and expand the program, said Ken Smith, president of the Virginia State Waterman's Association. Salaried watermen will then plant the seeds, and harvest and sell the mature oysters. The cooperative will lease acres of bay bottom from the state, and buy oyster seed and cages to grow the oysters. ![]() ![]() Tolar Nolley, is goinf to equip a dozen watermen with the resources they need to farm oysters in the Chesapeake Bay. The Oyster Company of Virginia, founded in August by Northern Neck businessman W. ![]() Here is an earlier post made on this blog: Lynnhaven Oysters Make a Comeback: Here is the obvious sign of this comeback!!!īusinessmen, watermen and scientists have collaborated to launch Virginia's first privately funded oyster co-op. In fact, I will try a new oyster recipe with these and post it on - be sure to check it out! and I will post whether they live up to the hype or not. Because our oysters live at the very southern end of the Chesapeake Bay where it meets the ocean the water has that desirable high salinity and ideal conditions exist for producing the best tasting oysters you can find". Generally the saltier the water (up to the limit in which oysters thrive) the better the taste of the oysters. They prefer a mix of fresh water and seawater and tolerate a range of saltiness (salinity). The taste of oysters is highly dependent on their living conditions. The unique environment of the Lynnhaven River Estuary produces oysters that have been acclaimed around the world for their wonderfully salty taste of the ocean. World Famous - The Favorite of Presidents and Royalty "Salty and with that wonderful fresh ocean taste - directly from the boat to your home. How could I resist ordering after reading their ad copy from their website: Tell me if this doesn't just make your mouth water: "Fresh, outstandingly good, live oysters from the Lynnhaven River Estuary of the Chesapeake Bay". Want to become an oyster gardener? Attend a new gardener seminar.I love finding new good oyster farms, and am looking forward to getting my first shipment from Lynnhaven River Oysters. Each oyster gardener can then start over with a new batch of baby oysters to care for. All of the returned oysters are transplanted onto sanctuary (non-harvest) reefs in nearby waters. ![]() Gardeners will grow and care for their oysters in the cages for about one year and will return the mature adult oysters to CBF at an Oyster Roundup the following summer. At the end of the seminar, they will have the option to take home spat-on-shell oysters (baby oysters set on recycled shells) and two 18" x 9" cages to grow them in. How Is It Done?įirst-time oyster gardeners are required to attend a short seminar to learn how to maintain their oyster garden over the coming year. Once grown, the adult oysters are returned to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation for planting on sanctuary reefs. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation's Oyster Gardening Program gives citizens an opportunity to help bring back this vital species by growing oysters alongside their docks. Unfortunately today's oyster population is a small fraction of what it used to be. They also provide essential habitat for fish and other Bay creatures. Oysters are the Chesapeake Bay's best natural filters. Join a community of over 300 citizens in Virginia who are doing what they can to clean up the water. Oysters are the easiest pets you'll ever own because everything they need to survive is in the water. Did you know a single adult oyster can filter up to 50 gallons of water a day? Imagine how clear our waterways would be if we had more oysters! You can help us! By becoming an oyster gardener, you actually become a "foster parent" for a few hundred baby oysters. ![]()
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