An oyster farm is a facility where oysters are raised and harvested for food. The practice of farming oysters for food and pearls dates back to Roman times, when these bivalves were widely cultivated all around the Mediterranean to satisfy the Roman appetite for oysters. The cultivation techniques used have not changed very much since this period, with oyster farms being located along the shorelines of many of the world's oceans.
In some cases, an oyster farm is established in an area where oysters live naturally. The oyster farmers focus on increasing the oyster population, using a variety of techniques to deter natural predators. Oyster farms can also be established from scratch by “seeding” with baby oysters which will settle onto the rocks and eventually grow. Periodic reseeding is used in both natural and artificial farms to ensure that the oyster population remains large and healthy.
Several different types of oysters can be cultivated in an oyster farm, including Pacific oysters, Sydney rock oysters, and Eastern oysters. The environmental impact of an oyster farm is often positive, as long as it is well managed. Oysters are filter feeders, so they will scrub the water, keeping it fresh and clear. In some regions, oyster farms are actually established specifically for environmental cleanup, with the oysters being kept on the job instead of eaten.
However, oyster farms can cause environmental problems. Many oyster farms are fenced or otherwise secured to deter predators, which can interfere with the free movements of marine animals like fish and otters. The use of motorboats to maintain the oyster farm can also become a problem, with the boats disrupting the natural environment. Some environmentalists have also expressed concerns that oyster farms choke out native mollusk species, and that oyster farming can also interfere with the human enjoyment of the water.
Despite legitimate environmental concerns, oyster farming is usually viewed as a positive activity, especially when oyster farmers manage their oysters sustainably. Oyster farming is one of the oldest forms of aquaculture, and some people have suggested that oysters may be among the oldest of domesticated animals, with the oyster farms of Roman times being a descendant of even older aquaculture techniques. Whether or not this claim is true, oysters certainly remain perennially popular, and the products of oyster farms can be seen on ice at many fish counters and harbor markets.