{"id":1156467,"date":"2023-04-12T21:40:16","date_gmt":"2023-04-12T19:40:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/asc-aqua.org\/?page_id=1156467"},"modified":"2024-11-28T13:57:10","modified_gmt":"2024-11-28T12:57:10","slug":"farmed-oysters","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/asc-aqua.org\/learn-about-seafood-farming\/farmed-oysters\/","title":{"rendered":"Oysters"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Celebrating oysters<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\n\n
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S<\/span>teeped in tradition<\/span>,<\/span> oysters<\/span> are <\/span>celebrated for their nutrition, taste, and environmental benefits. They are packed with vitamins and minerals and, as filter feeders, <\/span>they <\/span>are great for the environment.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Have you heard –<\/span> the world is your oyster<\/span>?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span> I<\/span>n<\/span> Shakespeare\u2019s<\/span> Merry Wives of Windsor<\/span>, <\/span>the character Falstaff says, \u201cI will not lend thee a penny,\u201d to which Pistol replies, \u201cWhy, then, the world\u2019s mine oyster, Which I with sword will open.\u201d <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

You definitely don\u2019t need a sword to open an oyster, but the world of oysters is fascinating.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What are oysters?<\/p>\n

Oysters are a type of bivalve – a class of mollusc with hard shells in two parts<\/span> that<\/span> includes clams, mussels and scallops. Bivalves filter the water around them<\/span>,<\/span> clean<\/span>ing<\/span> the water and<\/span> help<\/span>ing<\/span> with pollution.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u202f<\/span><\/b>Are oysters alive?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Yes – as a type of shellfish, they are alive, though they don\u2019t move much. They are often found in large groups <\/span>called reefs or beds<\/span><\/a>,<\/span> which<\/span> provide protection <\/span>for<\/span> various species of fish, <\/span>crabs<\/span>, and other marine life.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Types of oysters:<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Globally, there are more than 200 <\/span>varieties, <\/span>with<\/span> around 12 <\/span>species<\/span> being<\/span> farmed commercially.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The leading farmed species include:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n