Pacific Oyster

About the Species

U.S. farmed Pacific oysters are a smart seafood choice because they are sustainably grown and harvested under U.S. state and federal regulations.

Can reach up to 10 inches in length.
The shell is elongated, thick, rough and sometimes sharp. The inside of the shell is white to off/white with purple streaks.
The shell has a “cupped” shape to it, giving rise to its alternate name “Pacific cupped oyster.”

Are of the shellfish family. Like mussels, clams and scallops they are bivalve mollusks, and have a hinged shell.
Adults are sessile – they stay in one place – and inhabit both intertidal and sub-tidal areas.
Have fast growth rates and high reproduction rates.
First mature as males, then later develop female reproductive capabilities.
Each female can produce between 50 and 200 million eggs during a spawning event.

Permitting for shellfish aquaculture is governed by federal, state and local governments.
The federal agencies involved are NOAA, the Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Food and Drug Administration, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, and the Coast Guard.
Shellfish farms must adhere to federal regulations including those in the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation & Management Act, the Endangered Species Act, the National Environmental Policy Act and the Clean Water Act.
Information on shellfish aquaculture permitting can be found in the Shellfish Growers Guide.
A variety of shellfish aquaculture tools, including maps and models, are available to coastal managers.