Oyster enthusiasts flock to Corpus Christi restaurants in anticipation of ordering their favorite bivalve on a half shell, and oyster farming ensures that oysters are protected in a safe and sustainable manner.

Purpose of Oyster Farming

The aquaculture practice of oyster farming is a process in which oysters are bred and raised for their pearls, shells, and inner organ tissue, which is eaten. Traditional methods for farming oysters include the stake, hanging, longline, broadcast, and lattice-tray, but regardless of which one is used, oyster farming is extremely beneficial to the environment. 

Oysters are filter feeders, which means they remove particles and nutrients from the water column through their natural feeding process, especially algae. This results in improved water quality and cleaner bay systems.

First Oyster Farm in Texas

Fun fact: The first Oyster Mariculture Permit ever issued in Texas belongs to Brad Lomax, the founder of the Water Street Restaurants. In 2020, he and his business partners created the 8-acre Texas Oyster Ranch in Copano Bay in Aransas County, which is also the first oyster farm in Texas. Lomax became inspired to help develop an oyster farm after watching an 8-minute documentary on oysters. Eventually after harvesting and selling the oysters, the oyster shells are recycled back into the bay, almost like a perfect closed-loop recycling program that ends up in dollars for the local businesses and a benefit for the environment.

Participating Restaurants  

Restaurants also benefit from oyster farming and as the Texas Oyster Ranch gets used for production, more restaurants will benefit. The following restaurants participate in these conservation efforts:

Harte Research Institute

The Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies is also helping on the conservation front, with their creation of the “Sink Your Shucks” program in 2009. The program was the first in Texas to reclaim oyster shells from local restaurants and return to local waters. This provides the substrate to form new reefs and habitats for fish, crabs, and other organisms.

Once the shells are retrieved from restaurants by the Texas Surf Conservancy, they’re transported to the Port of Corpus Christi property to be quarantined. Then, the shells are moved from the stockpile location to various sites for restoration efforts conducted by the HRI. So far, this has resulted in the restoration of oyster reef habitat through the Mission – Aransas Estuary in Copano, Aransas, and St. Charles Bays.