Oyster Aquaculturist
Raisin' Oysters
What is an Oyster Aquaculturist?
An Oyster Aquaculturist is a person who raises oysters for human consumption.
What's it like being an Oyster Aquaculturist?
Job Description
Being an oyster aquaculturist gives you the benefit of flexibility an freedom. The job is a very outdoorsy and physical job.
Work Conditions
The work environment depends on how the weather is and you have to rely on the tides and weather for this job.
Activities
Depending on your position in the aquaculture business, you could be doing anything from running the farms daily operations, to representing the industry in the state legislature.
Equipment
Cages
Cages are used by aquaculturists to grow and harvest oysters.
Float bags
Float bags are another device similar to how cages are used, it's 2 flotation devices attached to a wire cage used to grow oysters near the surface of waters.
Taylor float
A PVC pipe ring attached to a wire cage to grow oysters in, this piece of equipmenet allows you to raise larger quantities of oysters than the float bag.
Education, Salary, and Advancements
Education
No education is needed to attain this career, research is recommended, and there is an Oyster Aquaculture Training Program in Virginia.
Salary
The pay can range from $10,000-$25,000 a year with owners of well-established aquaculture operations making $60,000 or more.
Opportunities
There are many opportunities to get into this field. It would not be too difficult to make your own oyster farm but typically a new farm will be in the red for a few years.
More on Oyster Aquaculture
Positive results from oyster aquaculture
- Relieves pressure on land-based protein sources.
- Oysters provide water quality maintenance
- Oysters provide shoreline protection and sediment stabilization
- Oysters provide nutrient cycling.
- Provides an amazing food!
Pros and Cons of being an Oyster Aquaculturist
Pros
- Flexibility
- Outdoors
- Variety
Cons
- The need to be on the political defensive.
- Challenging to build a business in an environment that is always in flux.