It may look like we"ve led you into a squishy green minefield, but don"t worry, these clustered oysters will only explode with flavor. In honor of Oyster Day, August 5 of each year, we"re getting a glimpse of just one method of oyster mariculture, or farming in open seawater. The briny bivalves may be grown on beds, rods, racks, or—in this case—ropes, but the basic process is simple: Growing surfaces are "seeded" with whole or ground oyster shells before oyster larvae are introduced. The shells attract the larvae, which attach themselves and soon grow into a new layer of mature oysters. Humans have been doing this at least since the days of ancient Rome, but wild-picked oysters have been an important food source to many cultures since prehistory.
Aw shucks, It s Oyster Day
Today in History
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Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
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Time for brass bands and beer
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High alpine color in Colorado
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Let the games begin
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The Feathers at Frenchman Coulee near Vantage, Washington
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Okefenokee Swamp
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National Hummingbird Day
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Here s looking at you
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Road to Sa Calobra, Majorca, Spain
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Flag Day
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Making it work—in Norway
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Yarn bombing in the village of Gurnard, England
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A Portuguese fort takes a star turn
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World Bee Day
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Just a couple of yellow-billed hornbills
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Celebrating World Wildlife Day
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Constitution Day and Citizenship Day
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All Rhodes lead to the beach
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Happy Thanksgiving from an expert face-stuffer
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A lofty lighthouse and a little ocean spray
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Behold the perfect cone
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Al-Khazneh in Petra, Jordan
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Happy 300th, NOLA!
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Observing a squirrelly day
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Corjuem Fort in Goa, India
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Presidents hear the echo of history
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Endangered Species Day
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Natural Bridges State Beach in Santa Cruz, California
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Over and under the delta
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Star Wars Day