Atlantic Cape Fisheries
Oyster Farm


   The oyster farm began operation on a trial basis as a cooperative effort between Atlantic Cape Fisheries, Inc., Stan Allen, Eric Powell, and Susan Ford at the Haskin Shellfish Research Laboratory, and Stewart Tweed at Rutgers Cooperative Extension, Cape May County. Atlantic Capes purchased over 60,000 disease-resistant (1995) seed from the HSRL in the spring of 1996. These oysters came from crosses of Delaware Bay and New England resistant stocks and were selected for their high survival and fast growth rate. Support of the farm operation and equipment has come from Atlantic Capes, with assistance from Rutgers Cooperative Extension (S. Tweed) and Cape May County. HSRL-produced seed have been deployed in a "French Trellis" system of plastic ADPI culture bags on rebar racks at a nursery site in Cape May Harbor and at two grow-out locations: Great Sound and Cape Shore.

   Estimates of stock survival in early August, 1996 ranged from 90-95% at all locations. Growth rates were good and 50% of stocks in Cape May Harbor attained a shell height of greater than 75 mm. Twenty-five bags were moved from Cape May Harbor to the Cape Shore to improve their meat quality and marketability. The French rack and bag culture system has performed well during the period from July through October. Racks in the three locations have withstood several coastal storms without loss. Perkinsus marinus infection intensity has remained low all summer, and this has been, at least partially, responsible for the high survival rates.

   Seed oysters for 1996 were spawned at the HSRL Cape Shore oyster hatchery in June and maintained in a coastal upweller system until mid-September when they averaged 17 mm in length. A total of 125,000 were harvested and stocked at 3,000 per bag in small mesh bags and deployed at Cape Shore and Cape May Harbor for overwintering.

   Additional 1996 seed from the HSRL hatchery was received in early May and sorted to a density of 4 liters per culture bag. All 1996 seed were sorted to desired densities and deployed at four farm locations; Cape Shore, Cape May Harbor, Great Sound, and Atlantic Cape's Dock.


   Nineteen ninety-five year class oysters grew well in the spring of 1997 at the nursery site in Cape May Harbor and at two grow-out locations; Cape Shore and Great Sound. Size comparisons of stocks from these locations indicated greater growth in New England stocks and over 50% of these oysters were market size. Meat condition has been excellent, and mortality has been below 10%. The farm is presently being expanded using 500,000 1997 seed oysters spawned by HSRL. Atlantic Cape Fisheries has constructed an upweller system to hold these small seed until they reach a size for deployment on the farm this fall.

   An oyster marketing plan has been developed to introduce the "Cape May Salt Oyster" to local markets. Nine thousand oysters were harvested and sold to local restaurants and seafood markets in June, 1997. ACF has also shipped oysters to New England. The farm has a standing order at this time of 2,500 oysters per week.