Oysters spend part of their life cycle as plankton, which means they float through the water and cannot swim (or they swim weakly). Plankton provide food for many animals and are the basis of the food chain. After this point, they complete their life cycles and attach to hard substrate areas, such as old reefs.
These organisms are hearty, tolerant and can live in a range of brackish (fresh and salt water combined) environments.
But that's not all.
Eastern oysters are keystone species because of the many functions they provide for estuaries they inhabit.
Did you know:
•They can filter up to 50 gallons of water per day?
•They help control algal blooms, lower the amount of suspended sediment, silt and nutrients, and improve water quality and clarity?
•They provide critical food and habitat by creating three-dimensional structures, called reefs, which are typically made of older oyster shells?
Reefs provide natural habitats to fish, crustaceans, marine worms, and many other animals. In addition, they provide protection to shoreline areas by breaking waves and lessening erosion's impact.
PROMOTING SEAFOOD
Floridians eat almost twice as much seafood as consumers in the rest of the country.
However, based on a statewide survey of 717 Florida residents, approximately 40 percent of Floridians are not consuming recommended USDA dietary guidelines of weekly eating two servings of seafood.
The biggest barriers to purchasing Florida seafood?
Respondents don't know where to find it, don’t know what types of seafood are specific to Florida (caught or raised here), and the cost of Florida seafood.
Florida Seafood At Your Fingertips, a program released this past year through a University of Florida IFAS Extension & Florida Sea Grant, helps answer questions about seafood safety, handling and cooking, promotes Florida’s commercial seafood industry, and provides current information.
A team of seafood, marine science and nutrition Extension professionals, as well as seafood industry representatives, created the program.
Each module contains PowerPoint slides, notes, supplemental materials such as handouts and activities, and evaluations for each topic. Topics can be taught individually or all together, depending on the program.
Learn more about the program at https://www.flseagrant.org/seafoodatyourfingertips/.
Our area offers many opportunities to learn about and enjoy Florida seafood. There are also many opportunities to participate in volunteer projects — such as building oyster reefs — that directly help the industry.
Email bsaari@ufl.edu or call 850-689-5850 for more information on marine science and natural resources information.
Brooke Saari is an agent at the University of Florida's Extension office in Crestview.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: EXTENSION CONNECTION: All about oysters