You’ve heard of manmade oyster reefs, created with all kinds of materials and recycled structures. But what about manufacturing the shells themselves that baby oysters must attach to?
There’s a concerning shortage of oyster shell available in the Chesapeake Bay, both for restoration projects and for the oyster-growing aquaculture harvest industry. Prices on shell are sky-high. With the help of a new Chesapeake Bay Trust-Oyster Alliance grant, an Eastern Shore oyster farm is researching a cost-effective synthetic shell that could change the game for aquaculture operations.
Cheryl Costello is on the water at Orchard Point Oyster Co. to learn more. Watch below:
