Mount Pleasant Magazine Nov/Dec 2021

34 www.MountPl easantPodcas t . com | www. ReadMPM. com | www. I LoveMountPl easant . com including Barrier Island Oyster Co., Charleston Oyster Farm and Lowcountry Oyster Co. Charleston Oyster Farm, located along Green Creek near Folly Beach off the Stono River, uses a floating cage method called off-bottom cultivation, the culturing of oysters in which they are kept above the bottom of the river floor. Owner and Oyster Grower Thomas Bierce launched the business in 2015, collecting his first harvest in 2016. Bierce gets his oyster seed from a hatchery, allowing his crew to harvest oysters year-round. Bierce, who studied marine science and coastal geology at Coastal Carolina University, said that it generally takes anywhere from one to two years at a bell curve to grow oysters to a size, approximately three inches, where they are ready for market distribution. However, local restaurants are often wanting a smaller size than the three-inch oyster, which is why oyster farmers can also obtain an undersized permit for distributing oysters under three inches, known as petite oysters. “They’re still a perfect size,” noted Bierce, who harvests both larger and petite oysters. Unlike wild-caught oysters, farmed oysters can be distributed year-round. You may have heard reference to an oyster “season” in South Carolina, which applies to wild oysters only. SC DNR lists the recreational shellfish harvesting season as Oct. 1 through May 15. One reason why wild oysters are not harvested during summer is the air temperature — they can bake in the scorching sun, explained Bierce. Aquaculture cages used in oyster farming keep oysters submerged and away from the heat. There are different regulations for summertime harvesting though, and temperature controls are much stricter, he asserted. TASTING A PLACE An oyster’s flavor profile can vary based on where they are grown and the distinctive characteristics of the water. One reason Bierce chose Green Creek is because it is a tidal-fed estuary with twice daily high and low tides. The feature Get the Best Solution for Your Home and Budget. Reliable, upfront service for your home’s A/C, heating, plumbing & gas Make Us Your 1st Choice! BOOK YOUR APPOINTMENT 843-518-1479 1stChoiceforAC.com Photo by Stan Foxworthy