Get ready for Native Oyster Season with the Bentley's Cheat Sheet!
With September hailing the grand return of our favourite bivalves, the Native Oysters, we’ve compiled a cheat sheet to help you prepare for the season. Impress friends, relatives and Oyster Lovers alike with these helpful oyster facts!
Native Oysters Are Only Available September - April
Famously only available during months with an ‘R’ in them, Native Oysters will return to the Oyster Bar in September. During the summer season, the natives start to reproduce as the seas get warmer. They are left alone during this period, to give the Spats (baby oysters!) the best chance to grow and settle. They must grow for a minimum of 2-3 years before they can spawn, and aren’t usually harvested until they are around 4-6 years old. Leaving the Native Oysters alone during the summer months ensures that we have a sustainable source of oysters for years to come!
Oysters are fantastic for the planet
Oysters are great for the water and the planet, filtering up to 200 liters of seawater per day. Whilst filtering, they absorb nitrates which can cause harmful algae blooms, as well as carbon dioxide which is locked in their shells.
Oyster reefs also provide protection to juvenile fish, creating a nursery that shelters them from predators.
Pearls don't come from Oysters!
Whilst all oysters are technically capable of producing pearls, these aren’t the kinds of pearls you’d be expecting. The only thing that your shucker could find in an oyster on the bar wouldn’t be made of nacre, so wouldn’t be the white, shiny orb you’re expecting.
Usual pearls are harvested from an inedible type of oyster, or from fresh water pearls.
Need more info?
Join us at our oyster masterclass, where you'll learn to shuck with the best!