![]() The Eastern Oyster ( Crassostrea virginica) is among the shellfish species successfully cultured at the AIC using a micro-algae diet. ![]() The facility has been producing seed oysters from this strain since 2008. Seed oysters are small oysters, about 2–25 mm (0.8–1 in.) long, provided primarily to oyster growers for the half-shell market. They are also used to restore natural oyster populations or natural ecosystems, and for research. ![]() While natural oyster populations in the Delaware Bay spawn in late June or early July, at the AIC broodstock (adult oysters which produce baby oysters) are moved into temperature-controlled tanks in January, given plenty of microalgae food, and are ready to reproduce by late February. Fertilized eggs become microscopic oyster larvae, which are raised in filtered, sterilized seawater in 1,500 gal (5,678 l) culture tanks. After two to three weeks, the larvae metamorphose into juvenile oysters called "spat." The growth cycle from spat to seed oysters takes several weeks to several months, depending on their intended size. Where oysters naturally clump together, AIC's methodology yields individual oyster "singles" suitable for the half-shell market. The first sorting operation in this growth cycle occurs when juvenile oysters are still under a millimeter in size, after spending about two weeks in filtered seawater in large "downweller" tanks, with regular feedings of cultured algae.
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