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Art imitates life: Aquaculture industry leaders are working to create a cost-effective synthetic oyster shell. Image: Cheryl Costello

VIDEO: Oyster Farm Leader & Scientists Developing Synthetic Oyster Shell

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: