Oyster culture is one of the most prominent forms of marine aquaculture in the U.S. In 2011 31 million pounds of oysters were harvestede with a dockside value of approximately $135 million (National Marine Fisheries Service). That is probably a low estimate of the overall value of the oyster because it does account for the ecological value of the fish species that use oyster reefs as a food source and nursery habitat, nor the coastal protection and water-quality …
Clams, as a general term, can be used to describe any bivalve mollusk species which buries itself in the sediment. There are numerous commercially important clam species within the United States, though the one most recognized and utilized in shellfish aquaculture operations on the East coast is the quahog or hard clam (Mercenaria mercenaria). The hard clam naturally ranges from the Southern Canada to Florida, where aquaculture production of this species was valued at over $60,000,000 in …
Oysters are a very nutritious and well-balanced food. While there are more than 200 oyster species around the globe, only a fraction are edible. The most well known edible oysters include eastern oysters, Pacific oysters, European oysters, and Sydney Rock oysters.
The food history of oysters dates back to prehistoric times as evidenced by shell middens in coastal areas. During colonial times and the 1800s oysters were a food staple so common that street-side vendors in major cities sold the …
