More oyster poaching

[buckshotgumbo]

Guys, I'm not trying to argue with anybody. I stated twice that maybe it's perception. I also stated that perhaps I shouldn't have made the general statement that it's "commonly believed".
Not sure whether its thought that I'm lying, some just chose to ignore some of what I said, or what...

But here's the deal. And I'm trying to look at this objectively, purely as a consumer. 8 people had dinner at a good restaurant saturday night. Farm raised oysters on the half were ordered, and 3 to 4 at the table ate them. The general consensus was that they were bland. It was discussed, and one of my friends at the table stated that he had heard that some farms had a difficult time marketing theirs because they weren't as flavorful as wild. (I understand location, salinity, etc can have an effect. This is just dinner conversation)
Based on cost, and flavor, no more oysters were ordered that night.
Let's assume that these folks talked to friends the next day... "how was dinner?".. "Good, the veal cheeks are awesome! But I wouldn't bother with the blank-blank farm oyster. They were pretty bland."
That's how word gets around.
Are all farm raised oysters bland? I'd say no. But it's not uncommon for people to prefer wild as opposed to farm raised ANYTHING.
MAYBE ITS PERCEPTION. But perception motivates buyers.
And let me say, I think aquaculture is great. I truly hope it succeeds. I'm glad there are farm raised oysters and fish, etc. and I don't resent it in any way.

[Shawn Kimbro]

I'm not being argumentative either, everyone has their own tastes but some of the things they are doing in areas where oyster farming is more advanced is really mind boggling. Meet me at Old Ebbitt or Clyde's in DC some afternoon and we'll go down the menu (all farm raised). It's really amazing the differences in tastes they get by moving oysters to different locations at certain points in their growth, or by incorporating algae, kelp, minerals, etc. Really, no comparison to wild-caught.

[shoreboy6]

I may lose my Shore cred but I can't deny it, farm raised oysters are actually better. I have stated this before but my better half and I did a side by side comparison at the CBMM Oysterfest. We got a plate of Choptank Sweets and a plate from the Talbot County Waterman's Association. There really was no comparison, the Choptank Sweets were above and beyond the wild caught oysters. I have had several other farm raised brands that are also of better quality than wild caught.

Now Buckshotgumbo, the idea of tonging/scraping bars to keep them healthy is something I do agree with but you will not find any scientific proof to back it up unfortunately. I have worked the water and many of the oyster bars that are in dire shape or dead these days. One way to keep watermen in business would be to hire them to turn over the beds. This could be done much like the derelict gear rerieval contracts. I'd hate to put the word out but maybe a "moratorium" could be beneficial for a few years. It worked for rockfish and seems that severe reductions in harvesting crabs has had a short term benefit......... just saying

[LTF]

Buckshotgumbo,

If you create a market in which the wild raised oysters are more sought after and more expensive, then you are undoing what the effort to promote aquaculture is trying to do. You undermine the aquaculture market value and encourage the consumption of wild oysters. We already know where that has taken us.

[PropTalk]

You know, it would be one thing if oyster aquaculture was destructive (like salmon farming has proven to be).

But it isn't.

Aquaculture oysters are a net benefit to the environment. Choptank Sweets had almost five million oysters sitting in the Choptank River filtering water that otherwise wouldn't' be getting filtered.

The oysters also naturally spawn in the bags once a year, which release oyster larvae into the surrounding, relatively oyster-depleted ecosystem.

Consumption of the aquaculture oysters does not remove oysters from ecosystems where they should be left alone to recover.

We should be actively encouraging oyster aquaculture, not impeding it.

[buckshotgumbo]

LTF, I understand what you mean. But, consumption is only a part of what faces the oyster population. Disease almost decimated it, and habitat can be a problem if the bars are left to sediment over.
Now, I'm just kinda thinking out loud here, but here's where I'm coming from...
Remove power dredging. Allow them to be harvested by hand tong or skipjack. Place a quota on amount allowed.
Hand tongs can't harvest in deep water, and skipjacks face a whole other set of problems (weather being a big one). This way, the oysters aren't overharvested, and we can still have watermen working, the beautiful skipjack back on the bay (I would so love to see traditional Chesapeake boats/boatbuilding make a comeback), and someone to work the bars to keep them healthy.
Now imagine the restaurants with the "Oyster Bars" with a menu full of different oysters..
If a better tasting oyster can be had from farming, then they should always have a following.
Then, for those that can appreciate the nostalgia and wish to preserve the heritage that makes the Bay such a wonderful and unique place, you can have a traditionally harvested Chesapeake Bay Oyster.

[Jim_W]

I think one of the biggest problems with oyster is the price!!! It's to dam low 73 a bushell they are worth at least 150 for good ones. Raise the price lower the demand let the waterman make some cash without cheating and things will get better.

[paxfish]

I think one of the biggest problems with oyster is the price!!! It's to dam low 73 a bushell they are worth at least 150 for good ones. Raise the price lower the demand let the waterman make some cash without cheating and things will get better.

That would have been viable in the USSR 40 years ago.

But here and now, the price is determined by demand. If they bring $73 a bushel, then THAT is what they are worth!

[crabby and son]

Wild oysters should not be harvested at all in the shape that they are in period. What will it take for a moratorium???...............Gary