Oyster Life Cycle
Broodstock
Adult oysters used to breed oyster larvae
Larvae
Recently hatched oysters swimming freely in the water column
Spat
Immature oysters that have transitioned from free-swimming larvae to being permanently attached to a surface; less than 1 inch long
Seed oysters/oyster seed
Juvenile oysters less than legal size for harvesting; less than 1 inch long
Shellstock (stock)
Live eastern oysters (Crassostrea virginica) in the shell
Ploidy
Number of sets of chromosomes in an oyster’s DNA
Diploid
Two sets of chromosomes (2N); typical of oysters found in the wild
Triploid
Three sets of chromosomes (3N); oysters grow larger and are typically sterile (unable to reproduce)
Tetraploid
Four sets of chromosomes (4N); bred to diploid oysters to spawn triploid larvae
Oyster Production
Cultured oyster mariculture (COM)
Farmed oysters grown in bags or cages
Australian Adjustable Long-line system (ALS)
A type of oyster grow-out method in which oysters are grown in cylindrical bags suspended on rows of horizontal longlines near the top of the water column
Baskets/bags
Any container used for rearing and growing oysters
Biofouling
Organisms such as barnacles and algae attach to oyster gear, causing buildup that can block or damage equipment
Depuration
Submerging the oysters for a set period (14 days) to allow them to purge biological (e.g., bacteria) and physical (e.g., sand and silt) impurities before market for safety
Desiccation regime
Time period in which oysters are exposed to the air and dried to reduce biofouling
Splitting
Dividing oysters into multiple basket/bags from a higher density to a lower density
Grading
Dividing and sorting oysters into similar sizes classes
Tumbling
Jostling the oysters to chip off the growing edge of the oyster, resulting in a stronger shell, a shorter and deeper cup, and fuller meat
Tumbler
A mechanical device used to tumble and grade oysters
Gear tag
Identification tag attached to gear that includes contact information to show ownership
Stocking/seeding
Loading oysters into baskets or bags for grow-out
Grow-out
The process of growing oysters from 1 inch to harvest size (minimum 2.5 inches)
