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Seafood Watch - Seafood Guide

Oysters

© Scandinavian Fishing Yearbook/www.scandfish.com

SEAFOOD	RATING	MARKET NAMES	WHERE CAUGHT	HOW CAUGHT
Oysters		American Oyster, Blue Points Oyster, Common Oyster, Kaki	Worldwide	Farmed
Oysters		American Oyster, Blue Points Oyster, Common Oyster, Kaki	U.S. Gulf of Mexico, Canada	Wild-caught

Oysters, Farmed

Farmed oysters account for 95 percent of the world’s total oyster consumption. Most oyster farming operations are very well managed and produce a sustainable product.

Consumer Note

Farmed oysters are available year-round and can be served raw, smoked, canned or frozen. Oysters are known as kaki when prepared for sushi.

Summary

Like clams, mussels and scallops, oysters are filter-feeding shellfish that are extremely well-suited to aquaculture. Farming oysters brings little risk of pollution

or escapees, and habitat effects from the farms are minimal.

Unlike some farmed fish, oysters minimally impact marine resources as they don’t rely on wild-caught fish – in the form of fishmeal or fish oil – for food. And, thanks to the oyster’s filter-feeding action, oyster farms can actually benefit the surrounding coastal waters.

With their low habitat impacts, farmed oysters are a “Best Choice.”

Scientific Reports About Our Ratings

Farmed Oyster Seafood Watch Report

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How fish are caught or farmed makes a difference.

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