A single healthy oyster can filter 50 gallons of water each day, so you can only imagine the cleaning power of an entire oyster reef or aquaculture farm. Not only that, the oyster reefs themselves make a tremendous habitat for other bay residents, like crabs, shrimp and fish, who utilize their structure as protection against predators, as well as a daily food source throughout the ecosystem's natural hierarchy. Oysters are filter feeders and operate as the “vacuum cleaners” of the Apalachicola Bay. The benefits this natural resource offers to our watermen, the local economy, and the bay area's ecosystem and tributaries is undeniable. The importance of oysters spans far beyond our enjoyment of this unique delicacy as a delicious food source. Our focus will be on the biology, ecology, and restoration of the oysters, which play a critical role in the overall health of the Apalachicola Bay. Through the process of oyster cultivation, we will investigate the physiological and ecological processes associated with life in the estuary. Our hatchery produces a variety of oyster larvae to supply spat to local farmers, but will also offer our product for use in oyster research, oyster restoration, as well as educational projects. We've teamed up with the industry's most innovative biologists to ensure our laboratory is producing top quality oyster spat, which will help to jump-start mother nature's production of this vital resource. Apalachicola Oyster Company is excited to bring Franklin County's first state of the art Oyster Hatchery to the Florida Panhandle.
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