This month we celebrate our beloved bivalves – NC Oysters!
Oysters are bivalve mollusks that can live up to 40 years and grow up to eight inches; however, most North Carolina oysters are harvested at three years of age, at the minimum harvest size of three inches.
In the early stages of an oyster’s life, it is carried about by currents. As it matures, the oyster sinks to the bottom. To survive, the oyster must land on a hard surface. That is why they are found growing together in clumps or rocks.
Oysters are harvested from October to March with tongs, rakes, or by hand, in intertidal areas and shallow water along coastal NC. They are also caught by dredges in parts of the Pamlico Sound.
Not all oysters are equal and we in NC believe there are none to compare with those found in our coastal tidal creeks and sounds!
Jim Seidel, Chief Fishmonger at Carolina Fish Market, says this isn’t just a coincidence; oysters develop a sense of place, some human palates find every bit as distinguishable as a fine wine.
“Here’s the thing: All of those oysters are the same species: Crassostrea virginica,” said Seidel, a Carolinian who admits a personal bias despite his objective study of oysters, thanks to passing weekends shucking bushels of Stump Sound oysters.
“What happens is you get variations in oyster flavor based on where they’re living. The Stump Sound has a certain set of conditions, a little higher salinity in the water, so they usually have a saltier flavor.