1 00:00:00,720 --> 00:00:03,720 Speaker 1: People think it's back to school season, but it's really 2 00:00:04,120 --> 00:00:05,160 Speaker 1: a different season for me. 3 00:00:05,480 --> 00:00:07,680 Speaker 2: Yeah, because we're not thinking about going to school anymore. 4 00:00:07,840 --> 00:00:09,680 Speaker 1: Thankful you can keep the trapper keeper. 5 00:00:10,840 --> 00:00:13,480 Speaker 2: I don't need it. I don't envy y'all that are 6 00:00:13,480 --> 00:00:16,280 Speaker 2: thinking about Oh yeah, I gotta, you know, start thinking 7 00:00:16,320 --> 00:00:20,760 Speaker 2: about classes. No, that time in my lives are ova. 8 00:00:22,440 --> 00:00:25,400 Speaker 1: But there is a more interesting and pressing time of 9 00:00:25,400 --> 00:00:28,520 Speaker 1: our life, and it is a celebration for us. Tomorrow 10 00:00:29,000 --> 00:00:30,640 Speaker 1: is National Oyster Day. 11 00:00:30,960 --> 00:00:33,360 Speaker 2: Zakeia and I have talked about food many a time 12 00:00:33,440 --> 00:00:38,440 Speaker 2: on this podcast. Yes, and my friend also introduced me 13 00:00:38,680 --> 00:00:42,440 Speaker 2: to oysters when I met her in grad school and 14 00:00:43,159 --> 00:00:46,600 Speaker 2: changed my whole entire life. Did you know that that 15 00:00:46,680 --> 00:00:48,760 Speaker 2: I had never had an oyster? I had never had 16 00:00:48,760 --> 00:00:51,839 Speaker 2: an oyster. I didn't know that you didn't. We did 17 00:00:51,920 --> 00:00:55,440 Speaker 2: a lot of culinary first together, Yes, but venturing into 18 00:00:55,480 --> 00:01:00,520 Speaker 2: oysters was something that was new and surprisingly delicious for 19 00:01:00,600 --> 00:01:02,240 Speaker 2: me because I'm really big in the texture. I know 20 00:01:02,240 --> 00:01:04,280 Speaker 2: a lot of people don't eat oysters because of the texture, 21 00:01:04,720 --> 00:01:07,679 Speaker 2: but I'm here to encourage all folks give it a try. 22 00:01:07,920 --> 00:01:10,680 Speaker 1: It's good and based on the volume of oysters we're eating, 23 00:01:10,840 --> 00:01:13,160 Speaker 1: we had to really ask like, what's going on with 24 00:01:13,200 --> 00:01:16,959 Speaker 1: the oysters? Should we cut back? Should we you know, 25 00:01:17,040 --> 00:01:18,720 Speaker 1: scale up the consumption? What's the deal? 26 00:01:18,959 --> 00:01:19,640 Speaker 2: I know? Right? 27 00:01:20,120 --> 00:01:21,520 Speaker 1: So, you know, we had to bring it to the lab. 28 00:01:22,240 --> 00:01:24,920 Speaker 1: I'm t T and I'm Zachiah and from Spotify. 29 00:01:25,120 --> 00:01:47,360 Speaker 2: This is Dope Labs. 30 00:01:51,840 --> 00:01:55,480 Speaker 1: Welcome to Dope Labs, a weekly podcast that mixes hardcore science, 31 00:01:55,560 --> 00:01:57,720 Speaker 1: pop culture, and a healthy dosa friendship. 32 00:01:58,120 --> 00:02:03,040 Speaker 2: This week, we're talking all about aquaculture specifically, we really 33 00:02:03,040 --> 00:02:07,600 Speaker 2: wanted to know more about oysters, our favorite delicacy, and 34 00:02:07,640 --> 00:02:11,560 Speaker 2: how cultivating these shellfish fits into our economy, the environment 35 00:02:11,639 --> 00:02:12,720 Speaker 2: and changing climate. 36 00:02:12,960 --> 00:02:15,280 Speaker 1: Okay, so we have a question for you. Where are 37 00:02:15,320 --> 00:02:20,000 Speaker 1: you on the shellfish spectrum? Are you a regular consumer 38 00:02:20,120 --> 00:02:22,560 Speaker 1: of bivalves and crustaceans? So do you eat a lot 39 00:02:22,560 --> 00:02:25,120 Speaker 1: of shrimp and crab and oysters? Are you a newbie? 40 00:02:25,160 --> 00:02:28,919 Speaker 1: Have you just recently had your first oyster? Or are 41 00:02:29,000 --> 00:02:32,920 Speaker 1: you keeping the industry afloat like me and TT? Be 42 00:02:33,000 --> 00:02:35,320 Speaker 1: sure to answer the poll in the app right now. 43 00:02:35,440 --> 00:02:48,520 Speaker 1: Let us know, let's get into the recitation, all right, TT, 44 00:02:48,800 --> 00:02:49,480 Speaker 1: what do we know? 45 00:02:49,800 --> 00:02:52,720 Speaker 2: Well? I think I know that it is oyster season 46 00:02:52,840 --> 00:02:57,040 Speaker 2: and that National Oyster Day is August fifth. 47 00:02:56,960 --> 00:03:00,120 Speaker 1: And we love the oysters, okay, but the habitat are 48 00:03:00,120 --> 00:03:03,440 Speaker 1: our friends, the oysters. It's disappearing and a lot of 49 00:03:03,480 --> 00:03:07,000 Speaker 1: that is related to land development, wetland lost, and pollution. 50 00:03:07,480 --> 00:03:11,560 Speaker 1: We know that from our previous episode with doctor Ayana 51 00:03:11,600 --> 00:03:14,760 Speaker 1: Elizabeth Johnson and we talked about this a little bit 52 00:03:15,080 --> 00:03:16,520 Speaker 1: with doctor Nicholas Reyo. 53 00:03:17,120 --> 00:03:20,520 Speaker 2: Yeah we did. That feels like forever ago, but yes, 54 00:03:20,680 --> 00:03:23,760 Speaker 2: we have touched on this before. We also know that 55 00:03:24,200 --> 00:03:27,480 Speaker 2: aquaculture is not just about oysters, even though we talk 56 00:03:27,520 --> 00:03:32,200 Speaker 2: about oysters a lot. It's about the cultivation of fish, shellfish, 57 00:03:32,240 --> 00:03:33,480 Speaker 2: and aquatic plants. 58 00:03:33,800 --> 00:03:36,120 Speaker 1: But we know oysters are a huge part of the 59 00:03:36,160 --> 00:03:39,480 Speaker 1: aquaculture movement. It feels like it's really growing, but I 60 00:03:39,600 --> 00:03:41,480 Speaker 1: think that's about it. That's all we know. 61 00:03:43,440 --> 00:03:45,640 Speaker 2: We are laser focused on those oysters. 62 00:03:46,440 --> 00:03:49,680 Speaker 1: So let's jump into what we want to know tt So, I. 63 00:03:49,680 --> 00:03:53,000 Speaker 2: Want to know how aquaculture has changed over the years 64 00:03:53,600 --> 00:03:56,400 Speaker 2: and when did people start eating oysters. 65 00:03:56,040 --> 00:03:58,120 Speaker 1: A long time ago? It was sustainable then, but is 66 00:03:58,120 --> 00:04:02,240 Speaker 1: it sustainable now? If we consider what we know about 67 00:04:02,320 --> 00:04:04,880 Speaker 1: dwindling populations, and we know what we're trying to do 68 00:04:05,040 --> 00:04:08,200 Speaker 1: with oyster farming and aquaculture. A lot of times when 69 00:04:08,240 --> 00:04:10,680 Speaker 1: we try to have interventions, we always end up messing 70 00:04:10,720 --> 00:04:12,960 Speaker 1: up the environment, right, Like is this sustainable? 71 00:04:13,320 --> 00:04:16,160 Speaker 2: Is this helpful? Like I'm such a good person, I'm 72 00:04:16,160 --> 00:04:18,600 Speaker 2: helping Meanwhile, dump the farm? 73 00:04:18,800 --> 00:04:19,000 Speaker 3: Right? 74 00:04:19,279 --> 00:04:23,120 Speaker 2: And then my question is as all things are affected 75 00:04:23,160 --> 00:04:26,480 Speaker 2: by climate change, we see everything is affected by it. 76 00:04:26,560 --> 00:04:30,359 Speaker 2: I want to know how aquaculture is affected by climate 77 00:04:30,440 --> 00:04:34,240 Speaker 2: change and what scientists are doing to combat that. 78 00:04:34,640 --> 00:04:38,280 Speaker 1: And as the world's population grows, can aquaculture help us 79 00:04:38,320 --> 00:04:49,200 Speaker 1: feed our planet. Let's jump into the dissections. 80 00:04:53,160 --> 00:04:55,880 Speaker 2: Our guest for today's lab is doctor Bill Walton. 81 00:04:56,160 --> 00:04:58,920 Speaker 3: My name is Bill Walton, the ACUFF Professor of Marine 82 00:04:59,000 --> 00:05:02,400 Speaker 3: Science and the shell Fish Aquaculture Program Coordinator at the 83 00:05:02,480 --> 00:05:05,800 Speaker 3: Virginia Institute of Marine Science here in Virginia out of 84 00:05:05,839 --> 00:05:06,880 Speaker 3: College of William and Mary. 85 00:05:07,360 --> 00:05:12,280 Speaker 2: Doctor Walton works with shellfish farmers, resource managers, and organizations 86 00:05:12,320 --> 00:05:17,240 Speaker 2: to address the challenges of shellfish aquaculture and also identifies 87 00:05:17,279 --> 00:05:21,080 Speaker 2: opportunities to develop this industry. Before we dive into our questions, 88 00:05:21,279 --> 00:05:24,640 Speaker 2: we need to understand what aquaculture actually is. 89 00:05:25,160 --> 00:05:28,600 Speaker 3: Aquaculture is the raising of organisms of any type, and 90 00:05:28,640 --> 00:05:32,520 Speaker 3: that's plants, animals in an aquatic or marine environment. That 91 00:05:32,600 --> 00:05:36,520 Speaker 3: means that you're doing something during the life cycle of 92 00:05:36,520 --> 00:05:40,240 Speaker 3: that organism to help it succeed, so you've intervened in 93 00:05:40,320 --> 00:05:41,599 Speaker 3: some way in that. 94 00:05:41,760 --> 00:05:45,200 Speaker 1: So, as doctor Walton said, aquaculture is when people farm 95 00:05:45,360 --> 00:05:49,560 Speaker 1: aquatic species. So it could be fish, shellfish, or even plants, 96 00:05:49,800 --> 00:05:53,240 Speaker 1: and that can happen in both freshwater or marine environments. 97 00:05:53,480 --> 00:05:58,600 Speaker 2: And people use aquaculture to pursue different goals like habitat restoration, 98 00:05:59,120 --> 00:06:03,280 Speaker 2: trying to help threatened or endangered species, and of course 99 00:06:03,360 --> 00:06:03,839 Speaker 2: for food. 100 00:06:04,200 --> 00:06:07,200 Speaker 1: You know, I think my first introduction to aquaculture was 101 00:06:07,240 --> 00:06:11,680 Speaker 1: when there was like farmed tilapia and farmed salmon, And 102 00:06:11,760 --> 00:06:14,560 Speaker 1: so when I think about aquaculture, what comes to mind 103 00:06:14,600 --> 00:06:19,080 Speaker 1: for me is like multiple tanks of PVC piping swimming 104 00:06:19,080 --> 00:06:21,760 Speaker 1: pools of fish. Like that's what I think of. So 105 00:06:21,880 --> 00:06:24,320 Speaker 1: what does aquaculture look like for shellfish? 106 00:06:24,640 --> 00:06:27,640 Speaker 2: Let's take a minute to talk about the history of aquaculture. 107 00:06:28,000 --> 00:06:32,360 Speaker 2: Humans have altered marine and freshwater environments in pursuit of 108 00:06:32,440 --> 00:06:35,799 Speaker 2: food for thousands of years. We see this from indigenous 109 00:06:35,839 --> 00:06:39,599 Speaker 2: communities around the world who use different cultivation methods to 110 00:06:39,760 --> 00:06:41,280 Speaker 2: increase their harvests. 111 00:06:41,400 --> 00:06:44,279 Speaker 1: But one of the things we also know is that 112 00:06:44,360 --> 00:06:46,520 Speaker 1: in the last century we've had a lot of human 113 00:06:46,520 --> 00:06:51,200 Speaker 1: intervention that has affected aquatic species, and so in response 114 00:06:51,240 --> 00:06:54,839 Speaker 1: to that, we've seen a rapid acceleration in aquatic farming. 115 00:06:55,160 --> 00:06:58,880 Speaker 2: There's been a drastic decline in oyster populations all over 116 00:06:58,880 --> 00:07:03,280 Speaker 2: the world. Example, oyster populations are just a fraction of 117 00:07:03,400 --> 00:07:07,360 Speaker 2: what they were like in the nineteen hundreds, and three 118 00:07:07,480 --> 00:07:11,040 Speaker 2: fourths of the oyster eaves were lost due to over 119 00:07:11,120 --> 00:07:15,000 Speaker 2: harvesting from eighteen sixty to nineteen twenty. That's just sixty years. 120 00:07:15,040 --> 00:07:18,920 Speaker 2: That's someone's lifetime. We talked about how humans have disrupted 121 00:07:18,920 --> 00:07:22,040 Speaker 2: the food system in our episode on biodiversity with doctor 122 00:07:22,160 --> 00:07:25,800 Speaker 2: Ray Winn grant Well. Doctor Walton wants to help restore 123 00:07:25,840 --> 00:07:30,400 Speaker 2: these populations while also helping coastal communities develop a new industry. 124 00:07:30,720 --> 00:07:34,880 Speaker 2: Doctor Walton focuses specifically on shellfish and oyster farming. That's 125 00:07:34,880 --> 00:07:38,160 Speaker 2: when people want to grow and sell oysters and shellfish. 126 00:07:38,280 --> 00:07:41,680 Speaker 1: Oysters are mollusks or bivalves, and that's just a fancy 127 00:07:41,720 --> 00:07:44,040 Speaker 1: way of saying they have two shells. 128 00:07:43,760 --> 00:07:46,680 Speaker 2: And humans have developed a lot of different ways to 129 00:07:46,920 --> 00:07:49,240 Speaker 2: grow and maintain these creatures. 130 00:07:49,600 --> 00:07:52,480 Speaker 1: To understand how aquaculture works. We need to get an 131 00:07:52,520 --> 00:07:56,040 Speaker 1: idea of the oyster life cycle in general. When oysters spawn, 132 00:07:56,280 --> 00:07:58,640 Speaker 1: they kick out the eggs and sperm into the water, 133 00:07:58,720 --> 00:08:01,520 Speaker 1: and those eggs and sperm meat fertilizing the egg and 134 00:08:01,560 --> 00:08:04,760 Speaker 1: then you get a lot of growth in tiny little 135 00:08:04,800 --> 00:08:07,200 Speaker 1: larvae floating in the water. And so the larvae float 136 00:08:07,200 --> 00:08:09,840 Speaker 1: through the water until they can attach to a hard surface, 137 00:08:09,920 --> 00:08:12,600 Speaker 1: and often they're attaching to other oyster shells. 138 00:08:12,840 --> 00:08:16,120 Speaker 2: And once they're attached, those little oysters are called spat, 139 00:08:16,200 --> 00:08:19,720 Speaker 2: and these spat don't have shells, so once they're settled, 140 00:08:19,720 --> 00:08:22,440 Speaker 2: they start to put all their energy into their shell growth, 141 00:08:22,680 --> 00:08:25,840 Speaker 2: and they do that by isolating calcium carbonate from the 142 00:08:25,840 --> 00:08:26,520 Speaker 2: water column. 143 00:08:26,600 --> 00:08:29,600 Speaker 1: And so when those generations of oysters grow, one set 144 00:08:29,600 --> 00:08:31,040 Speaker 1: of oysters on top of another set on top of 145 00:08:31,040 --> 00:08:33,040 Speaker 1: another set, you get shell clusters and those are called 146 00:08:33,080 --> 00:08:37,640 Speaker 1: oyster reefs or oyster beds, and the oysters grow there 147 00:08:37,640 --> 00:08:39,480 Speaker 1: for the rest of their lives. And this is not 148 00:08:39,520 --> 00:08:42,040 Speaker 1: a short growth process. The oysters that we see at 149 00:08:42,080 --> 00:08:45,720 Speaker 1: the table are usually about two to three years old 150 00:08:46,400 --> 00:08:48,280 Speaker 1: because they're growing at about an inch a year. 151 00:08:48,640 --> 00:08:51,320 Speaker 2: And this life cycle that we just describe, it's full 152 00:08:51,360 --> 00:08:52,400 Speaker 2: of a lot of dangers. 153 00:08:52,720 --> 00:08:55,200 Speaker 3: Most of those, in fact would be lost. They'd either 154 00:08:55,240 --> 00:08:58,400 Speaker 3: be eaten or washed away. They wouldn't survive. But in 155 00:08:58,440 --> 00:09:01,120 Speaker 3: a hatchery, we can make sure that most of them survived. 156 00:09:01,360 --> 00:09:03,840 Speaker 2: So taking all of this into account, we ask doctor 157 00:09:03,880 --> 00:09:08,000 Speaker 2: Walton to describe what a modern oyster aquaculture setup actually 158 00:09:08,080 --> 00:09:10,880 Speaker 2: looks like. And the hatchery is the first step of 159 00:09:11,120 --> 00:09:14,720 Speaker 2: modern oyster aquaculture, and a hatcherie is an environment that 160 00:09:14,880 --> 00:09:17,000 Speaker 2: encourages the oysters to reproduce. 161 00:09:17,240 --> 00:09:21,280 Speaker 1: Hatcheries do that by mimicking and amplifying what happens naturally, 162 00:09:21,520 --> 00:09:23,720 Speaker 1: so they're increasing the yield of each batch. 163 00:09:23,920 --> 00:09:27,120 Speaker 3: We induce them to spawn. That's one way to do it, 164 00:09:27,160 --> 00:09:29,480 Speaker 3: where you just change the temperature for the oysters and 165 00:09:29,520 --> 00:09:33,440 Speaker 3: you convince them that it's spring and so they spawn 166 00:09:33,520 --> 00:09:35,440 Speaker 3: for you. And that should be more romantic than it is. 167 00:09:35,520 --> 00:09:39,880 Speaker 3: But essentially oyster spawning is throwing their gam meats out 168 00:09:39,880 --> 00:09:42,120 Speaker 3: into the ocean or the river, and those gam meats 169 00:09:42,120 --> 00:09:44,120 Speaker 3: have to find each other up in the water. 170 00:09:44,520 --> 00:09:47,960 Speaker 1: Those are called broadcast spawners. In the water, most of 171 00:09:48,040 --> 00:09:50,600 Speaker 1: the spawn would be lost. They're going to be eaten 172 00:09:50,679 --> 00:09:53,040 Speaker 1: by other fish or different things that are in the water, 173 00:09:53,160 --> 00:09:55,760 Speaker 1: or just simply washed away with the tide. But in 174 00:09:55,800 --> 00:09:58,040 Speaker 1: a hatchery, you don't have that same problem. 175 00:09:58,280 --> 00:10:01,560 Speaker 3: And at that point we care the babies called farv 176 00:10:01,840 --> 00:10:03,960 Speaker 3: We care for them for about two weeks and we 177 00:10:04,000 --> 00:10:05,960 Speaker 3: make sure they have all the food and oxygen and 178 00:10:05,960 --> 00:10:08,880 Speaker 3: clean water that they need, and then they go through 179 00:10:08,920 --> 00:10:12,440 Speaker 3: what's called metamorphosis. And so some audience members will remember 180 00:10:12,520 --> 00:10:15,960 Speaker 3: high school biology where a caterpillar becomes the butterflies. So 181 00:10:16,480 --> 00:10:21,000 Speaker 3: that swimming microscopic baby oyster in this case decides to 182 00:10:21,000 --> 00:10:23,240 Speaker 3: stop swimming and it goes through metamorphosis and it goes 183 00:10:23,280 --> 00:10:26,199 Speaker 3: down to the bottom and it wants to attach to something. 184 00:10:26,520 --> 00:10:29,960 Speaker 2: So at the hatchery they're just increasing the survival rate 185 00:10:30,160 --> 00:10:33,840 Speaker 2: of these oysters. And once that process takes place, that's 186 00:10:33,840 --> 00:10:37,240 Speaker 2: what we call a seed, and those are the baby oysters. 187 00:10:37,280 --> 00:10:40,120 Speaker 2: And if you're an oyster farmer, you're gonna then buy 188 00:10:40,679 --> 00:10:44,840 Speaker 2: those seeds for you to grow oysters. And so you 189 00:10:44,880 --> 00:10:49,040 Speaker 2: can buy them, buy the thousands or millions, and then 190 00:10:49,120 --> 00:10:50,880 Speaker 2: you can start to raise them. 191 00:10:51,080 --> 00:10:52,960 Speaker 1: I don't usually like to think about buying things on 192 00:10:53,000 --> 00:10:55,760 Speaker 1: the thousands or millions, but you can buy a thousand 193 00:10:55,760 --> 00:10:58,280 Speaker 1: of those oysters for about ten to twenty dollars. 194 00:10:58,520 --> 00:11:00,439 Speaker 2: Wow, right, that's cheap. 195 00:11:00,880 --> 00:11:03,160 Speaker 1: That is that's incredible value. 196 00:11:03,360 --> 00:11:04,880 Speaker 2: Do I want a little oysters? 197 00:11:04,960 --> 00:11:07,280 Speaker 1: We have to find a place to put them, because 198 00:11:07,440 --> 00:11:11,720 Speaker 1: when you're farming oysters, it seems like they need to 199 00:11:11,760 --> 00:11:15,480 Speaker 1: be in naturally occurring water. Bathtub water won't do. 200 00:11:15,800 --> 00:11:29,000 Speaker 2: Okay, my Brita filter won't work. So those indoor farms 201 00:11:29,040 --> 00:11:32,120 Speaker 2: that we had talked about and imagined all the oysters 202 00:11:32,160 --> 00:11:34,360 Speaker 2: being grown in, they pop into our minds when we 203 00:11:34,400 --> 00:11:39,200 Speaker 2: think about aquaculture, but they aren't really economically viable. And 204 00:11:39,240 --> 00:11:42,960 Speaker 2: that's because when you provide that oyster seed with food 205 00:11:43,080 --> 00:11:47,240 Speaker 2: and oxygen, it grows into a really hungry oyster and 206 00:11:47,280 --> 00:11:51,040 Speaker 2: you need more space that an indoor environment might not 207 00:11:51,120 --> 00:11:52,199 Speaker 2: be able to provide. 208 00:11:52,480 --> 00:11:56,320 Speaker 1: And doctor Walton says, you also need a lot more food. 209 00:11:56,800 --> 00:12:02,440 Speaker 1: Very quickly juvenile oyster becomes feed me see more little shops. 210 00:12:04,559 --> 00:12:08,400 Speaker 3: So you have this like incredible demand for food. These 211 00:12:08,520 --> 00:12:12,240 Speaker 3: shellfish are really good at eating the microscopic plants. And 212 00:12:12,320 --> 00:12:15,439 Speaker 3: so when you start to scale that up and say, okay, 213 00:12:15,440 --> 00:12:17,920 Speaker 3: I'll start a factory for shellfish in the middle of 214 00:12:17,960 --> 00:12:20,360 Speaker 3: the country, and I'm going to try to like raise 215 00:12:20,440 --> 00:12:25,520 Speaker 3: all the food for them under controlled conditions. Technically, I 216 00:12:25,520 --> 00:12:27,480 Speaker 3: guess you could probably do it, but I have a 217 00:12:27,559 --> 00:12:30,520 Speaker 3: very hard time imagining that somebody could turn that into 218 00:12:30,559 --> 00:12:33,920 Speaker 3: something that's sort of an economic reality. And so all 219 00:12:33,960 --> 00:12:38,360 Speaker 3: the shellfish farms that I have seen rely on working 220 00:12:38,400 --> 00:12:41,360 Speaker 3: with the natural environment and being out in coastal waters. 221 00:12:41,640 --> 00:12:46,439 Speaker 2: So the economic forces behind aquaculture push people to use 222 00:12:46,640 --> 00:12:52,760 Speaker 2: offshore locations in natural waters because it's actually more financially feasible, 223 00:12:53,040 --> 00:12:56,160 Speaker 2: and like you were saying, better for the oyster, because 224 00:12:56,160 --> 00:12:57,880 Speaker 2: there's more food available naturally. 225 00:12:58,200 --> 00:13:02,280 Speaker 3: When I'm first growing your seed, they're about one millimeter 226 00:13:02,480 --> 00:13:04,920 Speaker 3: and so that's you can see them, but they're very small. 227 00:13:04,960 --> 00:13:08,800 Speaker 3: They look like grains of sand. You might on that screen. 228 00:13:08,880 --> 00:13:11,680 Speaker 3: You might be putting a quarter of a million to 229 00:13:11,760 --> 00:13:14,400 Speaker 3: half a million of those grains of sand on one 230 00:13:14,760 --> 00:13:16,959 Speaker 3: and the seawater that's flowing by them is going to 231 00:13:17,000 --> 00:13:19,040 Speaker 3: bring them enough food and oxygen that they'll grow. 232 00:13:19,400 --> 00:13:22,839 Speaker 1: And doctor Walton is being modest. Oysters require a lot 233 00:13:22,920 --> 00:13:26,359 Speaker 1: of food and oxygen. You'd need a lot of money 234 00:13:26,400 --> 00:13:29,360 Speaker 1: to keep those bivalves fed. Like if you are going 235 00:13:29,400 --> 00:13:32,280 Speaker 1: to be a farmer, there's places that you can go 236 00:13:32,520 --> 00:13:36,240 Speaker 1: where they've taken little seeds and developed them into seedlings. Yeah, 237 00:13:36,480 --> 00:13:39,760 Speaker 1: and the oyster farmer is buying the seedlings and then 238 00:13:39,840 --> 00:13:41,679 Speaker 1: cultivating those into big It's like. 239 00:13:41,600 --> 00:13:44,320 Speaker 2: What people do for their gardens. When you want to start, 240 00:13:44,480 --> 00:13:47,960 Speaker 2: you know, growing tomatoes or if you want to grow basil, 241 00:13:48,000 --> 00:13:51,240 Speaker 2: maybe you'll go to a nursery that have already started 242 00:13:51,240 --> 00:13:53,840 Speaker 2: growing them in those little plastic containers and then you 243 00:13:53,880 --> 00:13:55,600 Speaker 2: take it home and you plant it in your garden 244 00:13:55,640 --> 00:13:58,440 Speaker 2: and then you can go and start growing your own 245 00:13:58,480 --> 00:14:01,680 Speaker 2: vegetable garden or growing your own are growing whatever you 246 00:14:01,679 --> 00:14:04,200 Speaker 2: can get the bulbs or the seeds that have already 247 00:14:04,200 --> 00:14:06,600 Speaker 2: started to grow, and you put them that someone has 248 00:14:06,679 --> 00:14:09,800 Speaker 2: made a habitat where they can have a healthy beginning 249 00:14:09,880 --> 00:14:12,320 Speaker 2: to their lives. And then you take them as that 250 00:14:12,400 --> 00:14:15,160 Speaker 2: little seedling that has started to grow, you put them 251 00:14:15,240 --> 00:14:17,800 Speaker 2: in a new environment and you continue to nurture them 252 00:14:17,840 --> 00:14:19,040 Speaker 2: into their adulthood. 253 00:14:19,240 --> 00:14:22,320 Speaker 1: And you know, just like a home garden. For oyster farmers, 254 00:14:22,320 --> 00:14:26,720 Speaker 1: there are multiple setups that they can develop to grow 255 00:14:26,800 --> 00:14:30,800 Speaker 1: those oysters. So one of the first examples that doctor 256 00:14:30,800 --> 00:14:33,640 Speaker 1: Walton walked us through is an oyster farm. 257 00:14:33,920 --> 00:14:36,680 Speaker 2: So we're gonna be talking broadly about two different systems 258 00:14:36,880 --> 00:14:40,440 Speaker 2: on bottom farms and off bottom farms, not to be 259 00:14:40,480 --> 00:14:46,080 Speaker 2: confused with bikini bottom farms. So if we're the oyster 260 00:14:46,160 --> 00:14:48,840 Speaker 2: farmers and we have these seeds, we have to think 261 00:14:48,880 --> 00:14:52,680 Speaker 2: about where they go. And on bottom farming, the farmers 262 00:14:52,720 --> 00:14:55,800 Speaker 2: are creating a hospitable area at the bottom of the 263 00:14:55,840 --> 00:14:58,040 Speaker 2: water body for their oysters to grow. 264 00:14:58,440 --> 00:15:00,000 Speaker 3: We get in a boat and we go out of 265 00:15:00,080 --> 00:15:03,640 Speaker 3: the river here and you might just see corner posts 266 00:15:03,680 --> 00:15:06,320 Speaker 3: like poles sticking up out of the water, and I 267 00:15:06,360 --> 00:15:09,800 Speaker 3: would just have to assure you that there are private leases, 268 00:15:09,880 --> 00:15:13,000 Speaker 3: what we call private leases, that are being farmed on 269 00:15:13,040 --> 00:15:13,680 Speaker 3: the bottom there. 270 00:15:13,920 --> 00:15:16,840 Speaker 1: So those seeds that you've purchased, those little baby oysters, 271 00:15:17,160 --> 00:15:19,640 Speaker 1: the kid oysters, you're trying to make your land more 272 00:15:19,640 --> 00:15:21,360 Speaker 1: attractive so that they stay there. 273 00:15:21,440 --> 00:15:24,480 Speaker 3: And those look very much like what a natural oyster 274 00:15:24,560 --> 00:15:27,120 Speaker 3: bed looks like. The typical thing actually that you put 275 00:15:27,160 --> 00:15:30,000 Speaker 3: down would be oyster shell. So you essentially take the 276 00:15:30,040 --> 00:15:32,880 Speaker 3: bottom that was soft mud, and because it's your lease, 277 00:15:33,320 --> 00:15:35,440 Speaker 3: you decide that you're going to improve that bottom by 278 00:15:35,480 --> 00:15:37,960 Speaker 3: putting oyster shell on it. We call that culting. And 279 00:15:38,000 --> 00:15:41,080 Speaker 3: when you culch, you're improving that habitat so that you're 280 00:15:41,120 --> 00:15:44,800 Speaker 3: going to hopefully attract juvenile oysters. We call them spat 281 00:15:44,960 --> 00:15:47,280 Speaker 3: that the spat will settle on your lease, and so 282 00:15:47,680 --> 00:15:49,440 Speaker 3: you essentially getting a productive area. 283 00:15:49,640 --> 00:15:51,600 Speaker 1: So what they're doing is culture. They're trying to improve 284 00:15:51,640 --> 00:15:54,280 Speaker 1: the habitat. This is the equivalent of you adding fertilizer 285 00:15:54,360 --> 00:15:56,240 Speaker 1: or something to your soil in the area where you are. 286 00:15:56,280 --> 00:15:59,200 Speaker 1: Oysters want something to attach to, so you add things 287 00:15:59,240 --> 00:16:01,760 Speaker 1: in onto the bottom of the water where you're going 288 00:16:01,800 --> 00:16:04,800 Speaker 1: to be growing them to make it attractive for the oysters. 289 00:16:05,040 --> 00:16:08,040 Speaker 1: Another form of on bottom farming is when cages or 290 00:16:08,160 --> 00:16:09,960 Speaker 1: mesh containers sit on the seafloor. 291 00:16:10,240 --> 00:16:12,600 Speaker 3: You might see a number of buoys on the surface, 292 00:16:12,640 --> 00:16:13,880 Speaker 3: and that would look a little bit like if we 293 00:16:13,880 --> 00:16:16,200 Speaker 3: were going out and we saw crab traps or lobster 294 00:16:16,280 --> 00:16:19,920 Speaker 3: traps somewhere, and in that case, we'd bring the boat 295 00:16:20,000 --> 00:16:21,920 Speaker 3: up and we would go to those buoys. In there, 296 00:16:22,160 --> 00:16:25,120 Speaker 3: it's a cage or a basket that's sitting on the 297 00:16:25,120 --> 00:16:28,160 Speaker 3: bottom and the oysters are sitting inside those bags, and 298 00:16:28,200 --> 00:16:30,040 Speaker 3: we would bring that. We'd bring that cage up to 299 00:16:30,120 --> 00:16:32,560 Speaker 3: the surface and you'd see that it's full of oysters. 300 00:16:32,840 --> 00:16:35,320 Speaker 2: So it's a mesh container that the oysters are living 301 00:16:35,360 --> 00:16:38,640 Speaker 2: in but since it's sitting on the bottom of the ocean, 302 00:16:39,000 --> 00:16:42,680 Speaker 2: other little friends that are also living in the ocean 303 00:16:43,080 --> 00:16:46,920 Speaker 2: can get in there as well. You know, some uninvited guests, 304 00:16:47,000 --> 00:16:48,440 Speaker 2: but I guess they're welcome. 305 00:16:49,120 --> 00:16:51,440 Speaker 1: Yes, And although it may seem like a nuisance, this 306 00:16:51,560 --> 00:16:55,880 Speaker 1: is actually great because this is evidence that for aquaculture farming, 307 00:16:56,040 --> 00:17:00,520 Speaker 1: and specifically oyster farming, these mesh containers create habitat for 308 00:17:00,960 --> 00:17:05,639 Speaker 1: other critters, so other members of this ecosystem to also 309 00:17:05,800 --> 00:17:09,280 Speaker 1: live and thrive. So, yes, you're doing it for the oysters, 310 00:17:09,520 --> 00:17:12,240 Speaker 1: but the homies are coming along too, and they bringing groceries. 311 00:17:14,920 --> 00:17:17,480 Speaker 3: I was just at of some farms recently and we 312 00:17:17,600 --> 00:17:20,280 Speaker 3: spent time picking up all the eels that had come 313 00:17:20,359 --> 00:17:22,399 Speaker 3: up with it that immediately started to bail out of 314 00:17:22,440 --> 00:17:23,720 Speaker 3: the gauge because they didn't want to be out of 315 00:17:23,760 --> 00:17:25,399 Speaker 3: the water, and so we just scooped them up and 316 00:17:25,400 --> 00:17:28,840 Speaker 3: got them back overboard. So you see lots of marine 317 00:17:28,880 --> 00:17:30,560 Speaker 3: life in amongst these things. 318 00:17:30,440 --> 00:17:32,879 Speaker 1: All right. So that's farming on the bottom of the 319 00:17:32,880 --> 00:17:36,720 Speaker 1: seafloor or a river bit off. Bottom farming is when 320 00:17:36,760 --> 00:17:39,960 Speaker 1: the shellfish grow in a mesh container suspend it near 321 00:17:40,040 --> 00:17:41,440 Speaker 1: the surface of the water. 322 00:17:41,840 --> 00:17:45,240 Speaker 3: The other version that somebody might see would be going 323 00:17:45,240 --> 00:17:48,119 Speaker 3: out on the water and seeing baskets or bags floating 324 00:17:48,200 --> 00:17:50,320 Speaker 3: up at the surface. And so the animals in this 325 00:17:50,359 --> 00:17:53,879 Speaker 3: case are living right below the water surface and they 326 00:17:53,880 --> 00:17:56,480 Speaker 3: have some type of floatation something that's keeping them up 327 00:17:56,800 --> 00:18:00,760 Speaker 3: near the surface, and it's a mesh bag dently, that's 328 00:18:00,920 --> 00:18:04,480 Speaker 3: just holding the animal, the oysters or the clams or 329 00:18:04,520 --> 00:18:07,879 Speaker 3: the scallops, holding it in that bag in the water, 330 00:18:08,240 --> 00:18:11,960 Speaker 3: and then you're letting it feed on the natural microscopic 331 00:18:12,000 --> 00:18:14,520 Speaker 3: plants what we call the phytoplank then let it feed 332 00:18:14,560 --> 00:18:18,080 Speaker 3: on what's in the water. And so because of that, 333 00:18:18,119 --> 00:18:20,879 Speaker 3: they reflect the flavor of where they're grown. But it 334 00:18:20,880 --> 00:18:23,720 Speaker 3: does also mean that you really aren't in a position 335 00:18:24,280 --> 00:18:27,520 Speaker 3: to medicate these things, that you're not in a position 336 00:18:27,680 --> 00:18:30,960 Speaker 3: to feed them something. They are relying on what's in 337 00:18:31,000 --> 00:18:31,440 Speaker 3: the water. 338 00:18:31,800 --> 00:18:34,000 Speaker 1: Now, we didn't cover all the different ways that people 339 00:18:34,040 --> 00:18:36,879 Speaker 1: farm oysters, because there are some in between methods that 340 00:18:36,960 --> 00:18:39,359 Speaker 1: involve being in the water and then out of the water. 341 00:18:40,240 --> 00:18:43,119 Speaker 1: Just know that people are getting to the oysters a 342 00:18:43,160 --> 00:18:44,080 Speaker 1: lot of different ways. 343 00:18:44,320 --> 00:18:47,600 Speaker 2: It's really cool to hear about how these farmers are 344 00:18:47,640 --> 00:18:52,520 Speaker 2: able to farm oysters in so many different ways that 345 00:18:52,560 --> 00:18:55,440 Speaker 2: actually mimic their natural environment. 346 00:18:56,440 --> 00:18:58,840 Speaker 1: This makes a lot more sense than my original idea 347 00:18:59,000 --> 00:19:04,200 Speaker 1: of swimming pools of oysters. The elephant in the room 348 00:19:04,240 --> 00:19:07,040 Speaker 1: here is that most of our oyster reefs and most 349 00:19:07,040 --> 00:19:10,480 Speaker 1: of our environment that existed for oysters to grow on 350 00:19:10,840 --> 00:19:14,000 Speaker 1: and to thrive and flourish is gone. Right, So you 351 00:19:14,160 --> 00:19:17,639 Speaker 1: have farmers creating these artificial reefs with mesh bags and 352 00:19:17,680 --> 00:19:21,520 Speaker 1: cages that are benefiting oysters and other organisms and other 353 00:19:21,600 --> 00:19:25,480 Speaker 1: sea creatures that normally wouldn't have a home. Yeah, Doctor 354 00:19:25,560 --> 00:19:28,960 Speaker 1: Iana Elizabeth Johnson talked about the Billion Oyster Project, which 355 00:19:29,000 --> 00:19:32,760 Speaker 1: has efforts to do that exactly, Yes, right in the 356 00:19:32,840 --> 00:19:34,679 Speaker 1: Hudson Bay. And so we see people doing this in 357 00:19:34,720 --> 00:19:38,160 Speaker 1: the Chesapeake Bay and along the waterways in the Gulf 358 00:19:38,320 --> 00:19:43,080 Speaker 1: in Louisiana and Alabama. These environments in these small aqua 359 00:19:43,160 --> 00:19:47,560 Speaker 1: farming communities have been affected by these changing natural environments, 360 00:19:47,720 --> 00:19:51,280 Speaker 1: and so one of the widespread impacts of the aquaculture 361 00:19:51,320 --> 00:19:56,440 Speaker 1: industry is to restore those communities' ability to make economic 362 00:19:56,480 --> 00:19:59,840 Speaker 1: progress through oyster farming and different shellfish farming. 363 00:20:00,080 --> 00:20:01,960 Speaker 2: We're going to take a quick break, and when we 364 00:20:02,000 --> 00:20:05,399 Speaker 2: get back, we'll talk about the economics around aquaculture and 365 00:20:05,440 --> 00:20:27,360 Speaker 2: its place in a warming planet. On next week's Lab, 366 00:20:27,400 --> 00:20:31,600 Speaker 2: we're talking all about forever chemicals, what they are, where 367 00:20:31,600 --> 00:20:34,240 Speaker 2: there are, and how we can move around them. 368 00:20:34,600 --> 00:20:37,120 Speaker 1: In the meantime, let's get back to the lab. We've 369 00:20:37,119 --> 00:20:40,680 Speaker 1: been talking to doctor Bill Walton about oyster farming and aquaculture. 370 00:20:41,080 --> 00:20:43,800 Speaker 1: Now we're going to consider what aquaculture means for a 371 00:20:43,920 --> 00:20:45,000 Speaker 1: growing population. 372 00:20:45,440 --> 00:20:49,920 Speaker 2: It's a really good question. Does aquaculture fit the bill? 373 00:20:50,119 --> 00:20:52,960 Speaker 2: Can it help us feed the world as our population 374 00:20:53,119 --> 00:20:54,040 Speaker 2: continues to grow? 375 00:20:54,359 --> 00:20:56,719 Speaker 3: The world population is growing, we know that we have 376 00:20:56,840 --> 00:21:01,760 Speaker 3: to provide food and that there's to me just sort 377 00:21:01,760 --> 00:21:05,359 Speaker 3: of the ethical requirement of thinking of ways how do 378 00:21:05,400 --> 00:21:08,480 Speaker 3: we produce that food in a way that also minimizes 379 00:21:08,520 --> 00:21:11,520 Speaker 3: the environmental impact while we do that. When we look 380 00:21:11,560 --> 00:21:14,879 Speaker 3: to the oceans, we know that the total world harvest 381 00:21:14,960 --> 00:21:18,200 Speaker 3: from fisheries has leveled off essentially, I think at least 382 00:21:18,240 --> 00:21:21,040 Speaker 3: for the past two decades, if not more so. The 383 00:21:21,040 --> 00:21:24,520 Speaker 3: world population human population is growing, and we think we 384 00:21:24,600 --> 00:21:28,000 Speaker 3: might be getting as much seafood from the fisheries of 385 00:21:28,040 --> 00:21:28,720 Speaker 3: the world as we. 386 00:21:28,680 --> 00:21:32,320 Speaker 1: Can, getting as much as we can so are we 387 00:21:32,359 --> 00:21:36,199 Speaker 1: saying it's leveled out or is decreasing now did it 388 00:21:36,280 --> 00:21:39,040 Speaker 1: used to be increasing like or do we have more 389 00:21:39,080 --> 00:21:41,720 Speaker 1: people eating fish and they used to so the demand 390 00:21:42,000 --> 00:21:43,080 Speaker 1: I have some questions. 391 00:21:43,359 --> 00:21:46,560 Speaker 2: The number of wild caught fish and shellfish has plateaued, 392 00:21:46,600 --> 00:21:49,439 Speaker 2: so it hasn't stayed, but the amount of fish and 393 00:21:49,560 --> 00:21:53,760 Speaker 2: other organisms harvested through aquaculture has grown, and doctor Walton 394 00:21:53,880 --> 00:21:57,280 Speaker 2: says aquaculture could be a major source of sustainable food. 395 00:21:57,680 --> 00:21:59,879 Speaker 2: You know what I think about a lot, what's that 396 00:22:00,440 --> 00:22:05,800 Speaker 2: the growing population of this world. I think that we 397 00:22:06,080 --> 00:22:09,359 Speaker 2: have to start thinking about how we're going to produce 398 00:22:10,280 --> 00:22:14,880 Speaker 2: enough food as our population is growing, like, we have 399 00:22:14,960 --> 00:22:18,760 Speaker 2: to be able to feed everyone. Of course, oysters aren't 400 00:22:18,800 --> 00:22:22,399 Speaker 2: the perfect solution. One reason is that they're pretty expensive. 401 00:22:22,840 --> 00:22:25,520 Speaker 2: Doctor Walton says we may never get to a place 402 00:22:25,560 --> 00:22:27,280 Speaker 2: where they're affordable for everyone. 403 00:22:27,640 --> 00:22:30,560 Speaker 3: If anybody who likes eating shellfish, let's say raw oysters, 404 00:22:30,600 --> 00:22:32,600 Speaker 3: if you've gone into a raw bar in a city, 405 00:22:32,680 --> 00:22:35,919 Speaker 3: these are expensive items. The typical person might think when 406 00:22:35,960 --> 00:22:39,000 Speaker 3: they think marine aquaculture, they might think salmon, and in 407 00:22:39,040 --> 00:22:42,960 Speaker 3: fact that's relatively low in terms of value total value 408 00:22:43,000 --> 00:22:44,800 Speaker 3: compared to some of the other species that we raise. 409 00:22:44,880 --> 00:22:46,760 Speaker 3: So shellfish are sort of one of the big things 410 00:22:46,800 --> 00:22:49,440 Speaker 3: that we do. I think we working on that. We're 411 00:22:49,440 --> 00:22:52,800 Speaker 3: thinking about ways to have more cost effective ways to 412 00:22:52,840 --> 00:22:57,960 Speaker 3: produce shellfish that provide a food that could be purchased 413 00:22:57,960 --> 00:22:59,639 Speaker 3: at a lower price point, so that it could be 414 00:22:59,680 --> 00:23:01,960 Speaker 3: something that's more commonly available. Like I don't know if 415 00:23:02,000 --> 00:23:03,480 Speaker 3: we'll ever get to the point that we have oyster 416 00:23:03,560 --> 00:23:06,560 Speaker 3: nuggets at McDonald's the way that we have like chicken nuggets, 417 00:23:06,800 --> 00:23:09,520 Speaker 3: but like we should at least think about that as 418 00:23:09,560 --> 00:23:10,360 Speaker 3: a possibility. 419 00:23:10,680 --> 00:23:13,600 Speaker 1: So, not only is the need to produce more food 420 00:23:13,680 --> 00:23:17,120 Speaker 1: a concern, but economic forces are also pushing this innovation 421 00:23:17,240 --> 00:23:21,320 Speaker 1: around aquaculture. It's important to understand how aquaculture and the 422 00:23:21,400 --> 00:23:25,840 Speaker 1: changes to our coastline is impacting people economically. Doctor Walton 423 00:23:25,920 --> 00:23:29,960 Speaker 1: says that US aquaculture is actually not a world leader. 424 00:23:30,000 --> 00:23:33,440 Speaker 1: We're currently sixteenth in the world in terms of production, 425 00:23:34,080 --> 00:23:37,480 Speaker 1: and he says that's surprising given how much coastline we have. 426 00:23:37,800 --> 00:23:41,600 Speaker 1: But another interesting aspect of this is that shellfish aquaculture 427 00:23:41,680 --> 00:23:44,800 Speaker 1: is happening out in the environment, not on private property. 428 00:23:45,040 --> 00:23:48,119 Speaker 3: You're doing this out in shared waters. As a community, 429 00:23:48,280 --> 00:23:49,840 Speaker 3: you need to decide that you want to do it. 430 00:23:49,840 --> 00:23:54,200 Speaker 3: It has to be permitted that said, of the aquaculture 431 00:23:54,240 --> 00:23:56,720 Speaker 3: that we do do in the US, in the marine environment, 432 00:23:57,000 --> 00:24:01,960 Speaker 3: it is dominated by harvest of oysters and clams and muscles. 433 00:24:02,240 --> 00:24:06,160 Speaker 2: Okay, so we're not going to solve world hunger with oysters, 434 00:24:06,880 --> 00:24:11,960 Speaker 2: but aquaculture technology could help develop more food and sustainably. 435 00:24:12,200 --> 00:24:14,679 Speaker 3: Oysters are a really healthy food, right, and when you 436 00:24:14,720 --> 00:24:17,479 Speaker 3: think about what it takes to produce that protein, it's 437 00:24:17,520 --> 00:24:20,480 Speaker 3: probably a good choice as a society to be thinking 438 00:24:20,480 --> 00:24:22,840 Speaker 3: about that. I'd like to get there, but we're not there. 439 00:24:23,080 --> 00:24:25,480 Speaker 1: So we have this situation where as doctor Walton said, 440 00:24:25,520 --> 00:24:28,200 Speaker 1: we have a pretty pricey food, oysters. In this case, 441 00:24:28,440 --> 00:24:30,360 Speaker 1: let's be in sold to restaurants where people are buying 442 00:24:30,400 --> 00:24:33,119 Speaker 1: them for two or three dollars per oyster, and sometimes 443 00:24:33,119 --> 00:24:36,640 Speaker 1: that's the happy hour deal. So how do you feel 444 00:24:36,720 --> 00:24:38,920 Speaker 1: good about cultivating something that's so expensive. 445 00:24:39,200 --> 00:24:41,639 Speaker 3: The way I feel good about that is not only 446 00:24:41,720 --> 00:24:44,560 Speaker 3: the environmental impact that I think is as I said, 447 00:24:44,640 --> 00:24:46,840 Speaker 3: I think is a net positive for the coastal environment. 448 00:24:46,840 --> 00:24:49,879 Speaker 3: So I want to encourage shellfish farms in our local 449 00:24:50,200 --> 00:24:53,760 Speaker 3: coastal waters, but I also think it is a way 450 00:24:53,760 --> 00:24:59,040 Speaker 3: of exporting income from metropolitan centers out to these rural 451 00:24:59,080 --> 00:25:02,879 Speaker 3: coastal communities, and again, how do you get jobs, Like, 452 00:25:02,920 --> 00:25:07,760 Speaker 3: if you're a nineteen year old in a rural coastal community, 453 00:25:08,119 --> 00:25:10,119 Speaker 3: there needs to be something that you can look to 454 00:25:10,240 --> 00:25:12,399 Speaker 3: as a way that you think that you know, you 455 00:25:12,480 --> 00:25:15,120 Speaker 3: might be able to pay the bills and make a career. 456 00:25:15,520 --> 00:25:18,359 Speaker 3: And so this is one reason I feel okay still 457 00:25:18,720 --> 00:25:22,480 Speaker 3: about a lot of USh shellfish aquaculture being focused at 458 00:25:22,480 --> 00:25:25,640 Speaker 3: a white tablecloth type restaurant is because I still look 459 00:25:25,680 --> 00:25:30,440 Speaker 3: at those communities that actually have shellfish aquaculture are almost 460 00:25:30,480 --> 00:25:34,440 Speaker 3: always rural and small because they're the areas that also 461 00:25:34,480 --> 00:25:37,240 Speaker 3: have some of the best water quality. And so to me, 462 00:25:37,520 --> 00:25:39,080 Speaker 3: there's a lot of value in that. 463 00:25:39,440 --> 00:25:43,240 Speaker 2: When doctor Walton first got into shellfish aquaculture, one thing 464 00:25:43,280 --> 00:25:45,880 Speaker 2: that stood out to him was that oyster growers were 465 00:25:45,920 --> 00:25:49,359 Speaker 2: really invested in water quality and he thinks that's a 466 00:25:49,400 --> 00:25:51,320 Speaker 2: great aspect of the industry. 467 00:25:51,160 --> 00:25:53,680 Speaker 1: And based on what he says so far, that makes sense. Right. 468 00:25:53,880 --> 00:25:58,920 Speaker 1: Good water is important for these communities livelihoods. 469 00:25:58,640 --> 00:26:02,639 Speaker 3: To have somebody come in and be literally invested in 470 00:26:02,680 --> 00:26:05,959 Speaker 3: the water quality arguing for it. I just love that. 471 00:26:06,040 --> 00:26:10,400 Speaker 3: I love that we have essentially stewards of our coastal waters. Yes, 472 00:26:10,440 --> 00:26:12,960 Speaker 3: they're growing something and they're harvesting something there, but they're 473 00:26:13,000 --> 00:26:16,439 Speaker 3: also really some of our best advocates for water quality 474 00:26:16,480 --> 00:26:17,280 Speaker 3: out there as well. 475 00:26:17,480 --> 00:26:19,840 Speaker 2: It's such an amazing point to make and I think 476 00:26:20,000 --> 00:26:22,959 Speaker 2: really important, and I'm glad that doctor Walton highlighted it. 477 00:26:23,400 --> 00:26:28,880 Speaker 2: These farms and cultivation areas affect people and communities locally. 478 00:26:29,200 --> 00:26:32,240 Speaker 3: I think of places that I've worked, for example, with shrimping, 479 00:26:32,720 --> 00:26:37,639 Speaker 3: and the grandparent who runs the shrimping boat is not 480 00:26:37,800 --> 00:26:42,119 Speaker 3: encouraging their grandchildren to become shrimpers. When those communities start 481 00:26:42,200 --> 00:26:46,520 Speaker 3: to have that movement away from fisheries, what happens to them. 482 00:26:46,920 --> 00:26:49,840 Speaker 2: Doctor Walton says that aquaculture is a way for people 483 00:26:49,880 --> 00:26:53,320 Speaker 2: to stay involved and work in coastal places, many of 484 00:26:53,400 --> 00:26:56,359 Speaker 2: which are rural, and we're seeing more and more rural 485 00:26:56,359 --> 00:26:59,359 Speaker 2: communities turning to aquaculture as an industry. 486 00:26:59,720 --> 00:27:02,920 Speaker 3: I think there is again this sort of social element 487 00:27:03,119 --> 00:27:07,400 Speaker 3: of if we can find ways that people can make 488 00:27:07,440 --> 00:27:11,439 Speaker 3: a living working on the water to provide food in 489 00:27:11,480 --> 00:27:16,359 Speaker 3: a way that's environmentally sustainable, that keeps those communities thriving 490 00:27:16,640 --> 00:27:20,639 Speaker 3: and alive. Honestly, I think the biggest part of it 491 00:27:20,680 --> 00:27:23,840 Speaker 3: for me is that it's something that's giving communities the 492 00:27:23,880 --> 00:27:26,600 Speaker 3: option of do they want to adopt another way of 493 00:27:26,640 --> 00:27:29,560 Speaker 3: bringing in food from the sea that presents ways for 494 00:27:29,680 --> 00:27:33,199 Speaker 3: young people in that community to go have careers and 495 00:27:33,240 --> 00:27:37,240 Speaker 3: build a life there. Then lastly, I just amazed that 496 00:27:37,280 --> 00:27:42,000 Speaker 3: shellfish aquaculture gives you the ability to raise food and 497 00:27:42,440 --> 00:27:46,840 Speaker 3: help income while also helping the environment. Like I genuinely 498 00:27:46,880 --> 00:27:49,800 Speaker 3: believe that the way that we practice shellfish aquaculture in 499 00:27:49,800 --> 00:27:55,320 Speaker 3: the United States is not just relatively environmentally benign. I 500 00:27:55,359 --> 00:27:57,640 Speaker 3: think that a lot of our coastal waters are better 501 00:27:57,680 --> 00:27:59,520 Speaker 3: off with shellfish aquaculture in it. 502 00:28:00,400 --> 00:28:03,679 Speaker 1: Doctor Walton is saying this is a sustainable industry that 503 00:28:03,720 --> 00:28:07,919 Speaker 1: can bolster rural economies and improve the environment. Sounds almost 504 00:28:07,920 --> 00:28:09,320 Speaker 1: too good to be true, right. 505 00:28:09,480 --> 00:28:13,520 Speaker 2: Remember, all of these organisms are working in a beautiful 506 00:28:13,520 --> 00:28:18,200 Speaker 2: symphony together and they balance each other out within their ecosystems. 507 00:28:18,480 --> 00:28:22,640 Speaker 2: If an oyster farmer is not appropriately managing their oyster 508 00:28:22,960 --> 00:28:26,920 Speaker 2: farm and they are creating all of these oysters, these 509 00:28:26,920 --> 00:28:30,920 Speaker 2: oysters are eating up all of the nutrients that are 510 00:28:31,040 --> 00:28:34,320 Speaker 2: in their surrounding area, and what that does is create 511 00:28:34,359 --> 00:28:38,640 Speaker 2: an unstable environment for other organisms. Because these oysters are 512 00:28:38,760 --> 00:28:40,960 Speaker 2: you know, like hungry, hungry hippos, they're eating up all 513 00:28:40,960 --> 00:28:43,239 Speaker 2: the food, all the nutrients, and so that means that 514 00:28:43,240 --> 00:28:45,440 Speaker 2: there are other organisms that will suffer. 515 00:28:45,880 --> 00:28:49,360 Speaker 1: And that's just one example of the importance of this balance. 516 00:28:49,480 --> 00:28:54,440 Speaker 1: You know, this lab, we're focusing on shellfish aquaculture, but 517 00:28:54,520 --> 00:28:58,880 Speaker 1: there have been concerns about finfish aquaculture, so growing fish 518 00:28:58,920 --> 00:29:02,440 Speaker 1: that have fans, so thinksmon and catfish and what that 519 00:29:02,480 --> 00:29:05,760 Speaker 1: can mean for other wildfish in the area. We have 520 00:29:05,840 --> 00:29:07,480 Speaker 1: more info about that in the show notes, so be 521 00:29:07,520 --> 00:29:15,160 Speaker 1: sure to check it out at Dope labspodcast dot com. 522 00:29:15,480 --> 00:29:19,120 Speaker 2: Well, there are some other factors to consider when thinking 523 00:29:19,200 --> 00:29:23,640 Speaker 2: about oysters, specifically climate change. We act doctor Walton how 524 00:29:23,680 --> 00:29:27,240 Speaker 2: climate change has impacted aquaculture and how the industry has 525 00:29:27,280 --> 00:29:30,720 Speaker 2: to adjust, and it's really interesting. In some areas, warmer 526 00:29:30,760 --> 00:29:34,840 Speaker 2: conditions might actually benefit the farms at least in the 527 00:29:34,920 --> 00:29:35,680 Speaker 2: short term. 528 00:29:35,720 --> 00:29:38,160 Speaker 3: There may be longer growing seasons, et cetera, et cetera. 529 00:29:38,240 --> 00:29:40,800 Speaker 3: But when we think about climate change, that change is 530 00:29:40,840 --> 00:29:45,760 Speaker 3: hard and certainly rising temperatures can be stressful for oysters 531 00:29:45,800 --> 00:29:49,000 Speaker 3: in certain environments, and we know that that affects how 532 00:29:49,040 --> 00:29:52,440 Speaker 3: much dissolved oxygen is in the water, so there's concern 533 00:29:52,520 --> 00:29:55,160 Speaker 3: about that and that by the way that could function 534 00:29:55,280 --> 00:29:57,840 Speaker 3: differently at the surface of the water versus the bottom 535 00:29:57,840 --> 00:29:59,840 Speaker 3: of the water. There might be ways to adapt to 536 00:29:59,880 --> 00:30:02,280 Speaker 3: the but there could also be ways that people are 537 00:30:02,320 --> 00:30:05,360 Speaker 3: currently growing shellfish that may not be as successful as 538 00:30:05,360 --> 00:30:05,800 Speaker 3: they've been. 539 00:30:06,200 --> 00:30:11,000 Speaker 1: So climate change isn't just directly affecting whether shellfish survive 540 00:30:11,120 --> 00:30:14,040 Speaker 1: and how they survive, but it's also changing the farming 541 00:30:14,120 --> 00:30:16,800 Speaker 1: techniques that farmers are using, and they have to change 542 00:30:16,800 --> 00:30:19,360 Speaker 1: if they want to continue operating in this industry. 543 00:30:19,680 --> 00:30:22,479 Speaker 2: This is a little complicated. Rising temperatures alone may not 544 00:30:22,560 --> 00:30:25,920 Speaker 2: pose a problem for oysters, but other changes caused by 545 00:30:25,960 --> 00:30:30,000 Speaker 2: climate shifts could, like heavier rainfall. Because these oyster farms 546 00:30:30,000 --> 00:30:34,800 Speaker 2: are so integrated into the natural environment, they're sensitive to 547 00:30:35,160 --> 00:30:38,800 Speaker 2: shifts in the weather. Doctor Walton says rain changes things, 548 00:30:38,840 --> 00:30:41,360 Speaker 2: and also if it gets warm, it changes things. 549 00:30:41,760 --> 00:30:45,440 Speaker 3: So oysters are pretty good at tolerating changes in salinity. 550 00:30:45,840 --> 00:30:48,600 Speaker 3: But if you are also raising the temperature on those 551 00:30:48,680 --> 00:30:51,600 Speaker 3: oysters at the same time that they're getting stressed by 552 00:30:51,640 --> 00:30:57,160 Speaker 3: the freshwater inputs, we have seen mortalities from those combinations, 553 00:30:57,160 --> 00:30:59,440 Speaker 3: and certainly that's been associated with the idea that that 554 00:30:59,480 --> 00:31:01,760 Speaker 3: could belimate change. The other big thing that you hear 555 00:31:01,800 --> 00:31:05,200 Speaker 3: with climate change, of course, is ocean acidification. Of course, 556 00:31:05,280 --> 00:31:07,720 Speaker 3: for something that builds a shell, there is a ton 557 00:31:07,760 --> 00:31:11,880 Speaker 3: of concern about what happens as the ocean's pH drops. 558 00:31:12,200 --> 00:31:16,840 Speaker 1: pH is an indicator of how acidic or alkaline water is, 559 00:31:17,000 --> 00:31:19,520 Speaker 1: and on average the ocean is about twenty five percent 560 00:31:19,640 --> 00:31:23,000 Speaker 1: more acidic than it was a couple centuries ago. Now 561 00:31:23,160 --> 00:31:26,560 Speaker 1: that's bad news for marine life because the acid that's 562 00:31:26,600 --> 00:31:29,720 Speaker 1: forming in that water decreases the amount of carbonate that's 563 00:31:29,760 --> 00:31:34,520 Speaker 1: available for them to build shells and skeletons. Doctor Walton says, 564 00:31:34,600 --> 00:31:37,880 Speaker 1: the larvae are really vulnerable to these changes. 565 00:31:38,200 --> 00:31:40,040 Speaker 3: If I to get to a reef and the oysters 566 00:31:40,040 --> 00:31:42,960 Speaker 3: were dissolving away, that's pretty obvious, right. I'm not saying 567 00:31:42,960 --> 00:31:46,200 Speaker 3: that that's happening, but you could see that microscopic larvae 568 00:31:46,240 --> 00:31:49,680 Speaker 3: having problems in the water that you can't see is 569 00:31:49,880 --> 00:31:52,960 Speaker 3: a harder problem to identify in the first place. So 570 00:31:53,480 --> 00:31:55,640 Speaker 3: I think that's one of the things that some hatcheries. 571 00:31:55,720 --> 00:31:59,000 Speaker 3: There are some shellfish hatcheries now that are treating their 572 00:31:59,040 --> 00:32:03,200 Speaker 3: water to ensure that the larvae have optimal conditions and 573 00:32:03,280 --> 00:32:05,880 Speaker 3: are not challenged by some of the changes that have happened. 574 00:32:06,040 --> 00:32:08,240 Speaker 2: That's such a great point that doctor Walton is making 575 00:32:08,280 --> 00:32:12,000 Speaker 2: that we can't really see this lack of carbonate in 576 00:32:12,040 --> 00:32:15,160 Speaker 2: the water because we only see the shellfish that make it. 577 00:32:15,240 --> 00:32:17,960 Speaker 2: We don't know which ones aren't making it. And it's 578 00:32:18,000 --> 00:32:21,240 Speaker 2: interesting that hatcheries are trying to treat their water so 579 00:32:21,280 --> 00:32:24,480 Speaker 2: that larvae have a better chance of survival. Doctor Walton 580 00:32:24,520 --> 00:32:28,920 Speaker 2: said that this kind of aquaculture can actually benefit habitats. 581 00:32:28,400 --> 00:32:30,240 Speaker 1: And if we think about it, oysters are solving a 582 00:32:30,240 --> 00:32:32,040 Speaker 1: lot of problems. Some of them we can't see, and 583 00:32:32,080 --> 00:32:34,440 Speaker 1: some of them we can't. But doctor Walton gave us 584 00:32:34,440 --> 00:32:35,920 Speaker 1: a couple of really good examples. 585 00:32:36,240 --> 00:32:39,560 Speaker 2: Shellfish are actually really good at cleaning up water. 586 00:32:39,920 --> 00:32:42,480 Speaker 3: The other thing that I think has to happen with 587 00:32:42,520 --> 00:32:46,520 Speaker 3: that is that they do eat that microscopic plants and 588 00:32:46,560 --> 00:32:49,640 Speaker 3: they turn it into oyster. That to me is very 589 00:32:49,720 --> 00:32:52,880 Speaker 3: similar to when you put sheep out into an overgrown 590 00:32:52,920 --> 00:32:57,440 Speaker 3: pasture and they graze the pasture down. Shellfish are essentially that. 591 00:32:57,720 --> 00:33:00,960 Speaker 1: Another example is a lack of habitat for other organisms 592 00:33:00,960 --> 00:33:03,120 Speaker 1: that are living in the water. This reminds me of 593 00:33:03,480 --> 00:33:06,760 Speaker 1: our episode on biodiversity. I mean, we've already talked about 594 00:33:06,800 --> 00:33:08,480 Speaker 1: it before, but I'll bring it up again where we 595 00:33:08,560 --> 00:33:11,440 Speaker 1: talked about how all of these organisms, all of these 596 00:33:11,440 --> 00:33:14,360 Speaker 1: animals are not living in a vacuum. We all live 597 00:33:14,480 --> 00:33:17,680 Speaker 1: together and we are all serving a purpose, you know. 598 00:33:17,840 --> 00:33:22,080 Speaker 1: So the fact that oysters are their habitats are being 599 00:33:22,120 --> 00:33:24,960 Speaker 1: ruined and they're not able to survive like they normally would, 600 00:33:24,960 --> 00:33:29,680 Speaker 1: that is affecting other sea creatures water creatures in a 601 00:33:29,680 --> 00:33:32,240 Speaker 1: really negative way. So what are some of the solutions 602 00:33:32,240 --> 00:33:34,320 Speaker 1: that can help us get to a better place so 603 00:33:34,320 --> 00:33:39,120 Speaker 1: that we can maintain our sea life restore it. Yeah, 604 00:33:39,320 --> 00:33:41,880 Speaker 1: out in the bay, Bay, Baby in the bay. 605 00:33:43,840 --> 00:33:46,720 Speaker 3: Well, it turns out that the shellfish farm doesn't look 606 00:33:46,880 --> 00:33:49,960 Speaker 3: like an oyster reef to us, but a lot of 607 00:33:49,960 --> 00:33:53,160 Speaker 3: the organisms in the water perceive it is very similar. 608 00:33:53,280 --> 00:33:56,000 Speaker 3: If you're a little juvenile blue crab or a little 609 00:33:56,080 --> 00:33:58,959 Speaker 3: juvenile fish or shrimp, those are tough places to make 610 00:33:59,000 --> 00:34:01,680 Speaker 3: a living because it's you have nothing to protect you. 611 00:34:01,720 --> 00:34:03,800 Speaker 3: There's no safe corner. 612 00:34:04,200 --> 00:34:07,800 Speaker 1: So the oyster farms become the habitat that protects those 613 00:34:08,040 --> 00:34:09,800 Speaker 1: other sea creatures. 614 00:34:10,040 --> 00:34:12,920 Speaker 3: And if you think about it, the shellfish farm that 615 00:34:13,080 --> 00:34:15,320 Speaker 3: is out for example, on the eastern shore of Virginia, 616 00:34:15,840 --> 00:34:19,239 Speaker 3: those clams or those oysters are filtering that water the 617 00:34:19,320 --> 00:34:21,840 Speaker 3: same way that a reef would be. They eat the 618 00:34:21,920 --> 00:34:24,919 Speaker 3: excess food out of the water, which potentially can help 619 00:34:24,920 --> 00:34:29,279 Speaker 3: make the water clearer. And you know, beyond clearer water 620 00:34:29,480 --> 00:34:32,880 Speaker 3: just looking cleaner to us, the other environmental benefit of 621 00:34:32,960 --> 00:34:36,000 Speaker 3: clearer water is that sunlight gets through and then we 622 00:34:36,040 --> 00:34:39,240 Speaker 3: can see more things like aquatic vegetation growing on the bottom, 623 00:34:39,280 --> 00:34:42,000 Speaker 3: which we also know is a great nurse. We havebita listen. 624 00:34:42,200 --> 00:34:43,799 Speaker 1: I know we've said it before TT, but I think 625 00:34:43,800 --> 00:34:45,400 Speaker 1: we got to say it again. Oysters really feel like 626 00:34:45,400 --> 00:34:46,520 Speaker 1: the true MVPs. 627 00:34:46,840 --> 00:34:54,879 Speaker 2: Honestly, they're doing so much for the culture, the aquaculture, and. 628 00:34:54,840 --> 00:34:58,920 Speaker 1: You know, human efforts to improve the environment. Often we 629 00:34:58,960 --> 00:35:00,879 Speaker 1: don't get it right. We don't always get it right. 630 00:35:01,120 --> 00:35:04,520 Speaker 1: It's usually tied to some type of economic benefit, you know, 631 00:35:05,640 --> 00:35:07,920 Speaker 1: but it feels like here, I mean, I could be 632 00:35:07,960 --> 00:35:18,320 Speaker 1: missing something, but it feels like it's a win win. Okay, 633 00:35:18,320 --> 00:35:19,520 Speaker 1: it's time for the one thing. 634 00:35:19,600 --> 00:35:22,600 Speaker 2: Okay, Zee, what's our one thing this week? 635 00:35:23,200 --> 00:35:27,000 Speaker 1: Our one thing this week is really capturing the vibe 636 00:35:27,000 --> 00:35:30,640 Speaker 1: of this lab and it is an Instagram page Black 637 00:35:30,680 --> 00:35:34,799 Speaker 1: Girls the letter in Oysters. So black Girls in Oysters, 638 00:35:35,080 --> 00:35:38,120 Speaker 1: and this page is giving you all the vibes, all 639 00:35:38,160 --> 00:35:43,080 Speaker 1: the tips, recipes, suggestions. If you are into oysters like 640 00:35:43,120 --> 00:35:46,640 Speaker 1: we are, they recently had a real and it says 641 00:35:46,680 --> 00:35:50,560 Speaker 1: all the dudes and don'ts around eating oysters and I 642 00:35:50,719 --> 00:36:02,080 Speaker 1: just loved it. That's it for Lab seventy three. Be 643 00:36:02,200 --> 00:36:04,160 Speaker 1: sure to let us know what you think. Call us 644 00:36:04,200 --> 00:36:07,399 Speaker 1: at two zero two five six seven seven zero two eight. 645 00:36:07,719 --> 00:36:09,719 Speaker 1: Remember you can always give us an idea for a 646 00:36:09,760 --> 00:36:12,160 Speaker 1: different lab you think we should do this semester, you 647 00:36:12,200 --> 00:36:15,160 Speaker 1: can text or call at two zero two five six 648 00:36:15,280 --> 00:36:16,759 Speaker 1: seven seven zero two eight. 649 00:36:17,080 --> 00:36:19,480 Speaker 2: And don't forget that there is so much more to 650 00:36:19,520 --> 00:36:22,160 Speaker 2: dig into on our website. There'll be a cheap heat 651 00:36:22,200 --> 00:36:25,640 Speaker 2: for today's lab, additional links and resources in the show notes. 652 00:36:25,880 --> 00:36:28,120 Speaker 2: Plus you can sign up for our newsletter check it 653 00:36:28,160 --> 00:36:31,960 Speaker 2: out at Dope labspodcast dot com. Special thanks to today's 654 00:36:32,000 --> 00:36:35,920 Speaker 2: guest expert, doctor Bill Walton. You can find doctor Walton 655 00:36:35,960 --> 00:36:39,279 Speaker 2: at doctor Underscore Oyster, and you can find us on 656 00:36:39,320 --> 00:36:41,640 Speaker 2: Twitter and Instagram at Dope Labs podcast. 657 00:36:41,840 --> 00:36:46,080 Speaker 1: TT's on Twitter and Instagram at dr Underscore t Sho. 658 00:36:46,000 --> 00:36:49,440 Speaker 2: And you can find Zakia at Z said. 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