![larvae pics](https://freshalaskaoysters.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/larvae-pics.jpg)
Oysters do not naturally reproduce in our cold waters in South East Alaska, so we enlist the help of other growers. Our oysters start out as larvae collected in Hawaii.
![oyster spat](https://freshalaskaoysters.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/oyster-spat.jpg)
As the larva attach to something they begin to grow a shell, at this stage they are called Spat. Our spat is flown from Hawaii to Prince of Wales Island in Alaska where they are cared for at a nursery until they are about 5/8″ diameter.
![IMG_7954](https://freshalaskaoysters.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/IMG_7954.jpg)
The 5/8 “seed” once received is separated into 2 liter groups and placed into our growing equipment.
![old log floats](https://freshalaskaoysters.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/old-log-floats.jpg)
The farm previously used “lantern nets” to raise the oysters. 2020 will be the switch over to a newer style of equipment, the “float bag.”
![IMG_7956](https://freshalaskaoysters.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/IMG_7956.jpg)
The float bag will keep the oysters in the most nutrient rich environment, and will allow us to turn the bags weekly with much less effort to get a meaty deep cupped oyster.
![IMG_8635](https://freshalaskaoysters.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IMG_8635-scaled.jpg)
Approximately 2 months after planting, the oysters are ready for a “Tumble”. The Tumbler sorts the oysters by size, cleans them, and breaks the extra growth of shell.
![IMG_8642](https://freshalaskaoysters.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IMG_8642-scaled.jpg)
The Oysters go back into the Float Bags. This first tumble revealed 80% had grown to over 1″ in 2 months. Bigger oysters means more bags so they are not crowded. The oysters went back into 5 times the number of bags.