Oysters are a keystone species of filter feeding bivalves that remove algae and pollutants from our estuaries and provide a natural habitat for thousands of species of aquatic flora and fauna. Each adult oyster is capable of filtering as much as 50 gallons of brackish/salty water a day, which allows us to estimate that the the NC oyster industry filters over 1.5 billion gallons of water each day. Despite their importance to preserving our coastlines and ecosystem, more and more areas are being put under moratoria to prevent any new shellfish leases from being granted to farmers. With harsh pushback from property owners not wanting to look at floating cages along with the unpredictable nature of our local environment, the struggles farmers face are often overlooked. To prevent over harvesting of wild oysters and ensure we maintain our coastline as well as the species that depend on it, it is imperative that we continue to support sustainable oyster farming as well as other branches of aquaculture and aquaculture research.
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How can you help? Every person on this planet plays a role in either sustaining or destroying it. Just by living consciously and making sustainable choices you’ve already helped provide a better foundation for aquatic life. Supporting your local farmers is the next step. If the community places importance on our farmers, so will those who decide our future. When you buy locally, you’re feeding the local economy, creating jobs, and making our community itself that much more sustainable. It’s easy to convince ourselves that one person can’t make a difference, but when each drop of water comes together, that’s when we can change the tide.
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