Frank's Oyster Farm

After attending a workshop August 7, 1999 put on by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation in Wachapreague, Virginia, two oyster floats were built to hold 1000 oysters each:

Photo of Oyster Float #1Photo of Oyster Float #2

(Click on the images above to see enlargements of the floats)

The tiny oyster spats were provided by a commercial oyster farmer after growth from the larval stage:

Oyster Spat close up

(Click on the image above to see enlargements of the spats)

These spats are moved from a small net bag (used for transporting the spats) into a large flat black plastic mesh bag.

Spat transport bag and larger black mesh bag for placing in the floatSpats are evenly distributed within the mesh bag

The spats are distributed evenly in the black mesh bag. This bag is then placed in the float so that the spats will be suspended about 1 foot below the surface of the water.

The float is secured to a piling and then dropped gently into the water:

Launching the float!

Oysters will be monitored once a month. After a year's growth, the survivors of the first batch of oysters will be added to the Pungoteague Creek on the Eastern Shore of Virginia to form an oyster bed. The Pungoteague Creek feeds into the Chesapeake Bay:

The other batch will continue to grow under close monitoring until mature.

For More Information:


Last revised: August 21, 1999.