Oysters 101

With two days left until we travel back to NM to work for a few months, we WILL be indulging in raw oysters both days- in an attempt to eat enough to last us thru our change of cuisine...

So I thought I should learn more about the oyster business here in LA.  Here are some interesting facts:

• The Mississippi Gulf Coast is home to the American Oyster. The lower salinity levels of the Gulf have protected wild oysters from certain diseases.
• The warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico foster a faster growing oyster- they can reach a 4" length in less than 9 months!  However, the marketable oyster (min 3") are the 18-24 month oysters. An oyster can live 20-30 years!  Because the water never cools down much, the oysters never go dormant, which means their flavor stays the same throughout the year.
• While you may find natural pearls in the American Oyster, the oyster lacks the ingredient in its secretions to form the mother-of-pearl coating that gives the luster.
• Oysters are in best condition and most tasty in the winter and early spring.
• When oysters are feeding, they filter about 50 gallons of water over the gills per day. They can accumulate concentrations of bacteria & chemicals up to 1,000 times that of surrounding waters.  This is why all harvesters must be licensed- they are legally liable for illnesses and deaths that might occur from their disregard for proper harvesting & handling practices!  Harvesting can only be done from approved safe waters.
• Oysters reproduce by spawning in the spring.  Sperm & eggs are released at the same time & fertilization occurs in the water column. Fertilized eggs hatch into larvae- only 1% of these reach the next stage where they begin to swim & drift until it becomes a spat and attaches to something- where it will spend the remainder of its life.
• Oysters are born male, then a portion converts to female (?!). BUT if an oyster colony (called a "bed") lacks males, a female can convert back to male!
• 6 medium raw oyster have a whopping 45 calories, packed with 4.8 grams of protein, and only 1.44 grams of fat. They also are a good source of phosphorus, calcium, potassium & zinc, and, 7.35 micrograms of vitamin B-12!