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People have enjoyed eating shellfish for centuries, and possibly even millennia. Historical records point to the establishment of oyster beds as far back as 100 B.C. Ancient Chinese and Roman cultures developed methods for growing and harvesting oysters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the United States the Eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica<\/em>, played an important role in the Native American diet, and served as a food staple for European settlers. By the mid-19th century, Americans had become enamored with oysters, shipping them inland on so-called \u201coyster expresses\u201d and \u201coyster caravans.\u201d Almost every large city in the eastern United States had an \u201coyster parlor,\u201d a precursor to modern-day oyster bars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Today, the Southern tradition of oyster roasts \u2014 large gatherings where people enjoy oysters cooked over an open fire \u2014 is still popular. There also is a growing demand in restaurants for oysters served raw on the half shell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The hard clam, or quahog, has long been another seafood favorite. Native Americans made beads from quahog shells to use as money \u2014 a fact that inspired its scientific name, Mercenaria mercenaria<\/em>, which comes from the Latin word for \u201cwages.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n While clams are typically served steamed, a market is growing for clams served raw, as well as for use in packaged meals, such as frozen chowders and refrigerated spreads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Wild shellfish such as oysters and clams have been harvested from North Carolina coastal waters for hundreds of years. But shellfish also can be cultivated. Since 1858, North Carolina has allowed the use of public waters to commercially grow shellfish, provided that producers apply for and obtain a lease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries oversees the state\u2019s Shellfish Lease Program. The leasing process ensures that shellfish are sustainably grown in high-quality coastal waters, without affecting public access or recreational activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To start cultivating shellfish, North Carolina growers usually purchase small young clams or oysters, called seed, from commercial hatcheries or nurseries to stock their leases.<\/p>\n\n\n\nGrowing Shellfish<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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