(Crassostrea
virginica) |
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1.
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The
female and male oysters start to focus their energy on
reproduction in the spring to early summer. (Crassostrea
virginica are hermaphrodites and switch between female
and male throughout their life). |
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2. |
The eggs and sperm are released into the water and fertilization
occurs. Each female oyster can release millions of eggs
and the males even more sperm. |
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3.
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Eggs
hatch into free-swimming larvae, which spends approximately
three weeks in the water column. During that time it starts
to develop a shell and grows to approximately 300 microns.
Only a fraction of 1 percent of the larvae reaches the
next stage of development. |
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4.
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The
free-swimming larvae seek a suitable substrate to attach
themselves to, often referred to as “cultch”.
Once the cultch has been found the larvae extends a foot-like
gland, which secretes a pool of cement, and the oyster
turns on to its left side cementing itself permanently
to the object. (If the oyster is broken away from the
cultch material it will not cement again, this is a one-time
process). |
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5.
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The
small oyster is then referred to as seed or spat. After
a short growout period the spat is removed from the cultch
material producing a cultchless oyster. |
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6.
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The
oyster is then placed in a growth unit and feeds, grows
and reproduces until it is at least 76mm or larger. During
this time the oysters are cleaned and sorted many times
to assure that optimum growth conditions are available
for the oyster. |
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7.
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Finally
a ShanDaph is produced and ready for enjoyment. |
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