Hatchery hands off first seed oysters to Inland Bays farmers
Carol Friend picked up 50,000 oysters in Lewes, but she did not need a bigger boat.
The tiny seed oysters fit in a small bag, right in her hand.
Friend, who owns the Salty Witch Oyster Company in Lewes, came to the University of Delaware’s hatchery on Pilottown Road Aug. 28 for the first handover of seed oysters destined for the Inland Bays.
“This program is awesome,” Friend said. “This gives us first dibs as opposed to an outsider coming to get the seed.”
Friend is not alone. She is one of nine commercial oyster farmers in the Inland Bays. Some of the others will also pick up seed oysters from the university hatchery.
Friend said she will first place the oysters in floating cages or bags, and let them grow a little before placing them in a cage on the bottom.