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STEVE CROCKETT: There are four runs out here, and two of them are in commercial operation.
Last year, we moved about 30,000 oysters to market. This year,
about 45,000.
And once this site is completely developed, we'll be raising
about a quarter-million oysters on this 1-acre plot per year.
CHRIS NELSON: My dream 20-plus years ago was to begin
to create more opportunities for local production of oysters.
My great-grandfather started our
family in the oyster business over 100 years in Oyster Bay,
not too far from here, and he grew oysters, and my grandfather and father grew oysters
in Bon Secour Bay. And that's what we tried to -- with similar techniques
to what Steve is using -- grow oysters off bottom.
And so I ... I think,
You know, anything we can do to supplement the local production
not compete in any way with it, but to enhance the local production
is going to be helpful and provide our company an opportunity
to sell something that maybe someone else doesn't have. DEESE CHATWOOD: We're proud to serve
a local oyster that's farmed in Mobile Bay
down in the Point Aux Pines area.
And, it's
an awesome local Alabama Gulf Coast product.
A consistent sweet oyster. We're one of the few restaurants that serve an actual Alabama-tagged oyster.
We're really proud of that. We actually toured the farm.
And, it's a great win-win situation. It's a sustainable farm product
that our customers love.
CHRIS NELSON: And, in addition to that, there's a certain
environmental upside to growing more and more oysters in the Bay. The fact that the Bay doesn't have
as many oysters as it once did because of the lack of aquaculture,
bringing that back, I think is going to enhance the environmental characteristics of the
Bay in a real positive way
that you achieve certain benefits
by harvesting the oysters
and replenishing that stock and having young, growing oysters as opposed to
a mature reef that you don't get with just recreating an old oyster reef.
BILL WALTON: And that is what we are trying to produce as a farmed oyster.
Where you just have a beautiful white shell inside.
No black streaks, no marks, no mud
or anything like that.
That is one very nice looking oyster.