Gå ubegrenset med Magzter GOLD

Gå ubegrenset med Magzter GOLD

Få ubegrenset tilgang til over 9000 magasiner, aviser og premiumhistorier for bare

$149.99
 
$74.99/År

Prøve GULL - Gratis

Unlocking the business of oysters

Farmer's Weekly

|

July 18-25, 2025

Glenneis Kriel caught up with Kevin Ruck and Gabriel Lee to learn more about the production of these succulent bivalves.

Unlocking the business of oysters

So, you love oysters and have been toying with the idea of starting your own oyster farm. How difficult can it be?

Well, according to Kevin Ruck, the owner of Blue Sapphire Pearls, it is not that difficult at all: "As a matter of fact, it has many similarities with on land production. So, if you can produce vegetables, you can probably produce oysters, although it has its own set of unique challenges," he grins.

Studying marine biology, as Ruck did, would provide some valuable insights, but it is not a prerequisite for success. "You do not need to be a marine biologist to make it work, you just need to stick to the basics of production, and navigate quite a few administrative and financial hurdles," Ruck adds.

SEED STOCK

Pacific oysters (Crassostrea gigas) are the main species used, internationally and in South Africa, to produce culinary oysters. Introduced to this country decades ago, they are now considered naturalised.

South Africa's indigenous species are wild harvested, but enabling commercial production would require extensive research and development into the spawning and hatching of these species.

imagePacific oysters are also different from the species used to produce pearls (Pinctada maxima). The production of pearl oysters is forbidden in South Africa, because these are invasive, whereas Pacific oysters are not.

Production starts off with juvenile oysters (spat or seed), grown large enough at a hatchery to 'plant out'. There are three of these hatcheries in South Africa, situated in an estuary in Hamburg in the Eastern Cape, Paternoster in the Western Cape, and Kleinzee in the Northern Cape.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA Farmer's Weekly

Farmer's Weekly

Farmer's Weekly

Pet-friendly family accommodation in Gauteng

Escape the daily stresses of life in this peaceful environment embedded in nature, where hiking trails, a picnic spot on the hill and much more are available to guests Riaan Hattingh.

time to read

4 mins

October24 -31, 2025

Farmer's Weekly

Farmer's Weekly

Commercial beekeeping: managing swarms and logistics

Managing thousands of bee colonies as a pollination service provider is a complex, logistical feat. Added to the challenge is keeping the swarms fed amid dwindling natural resources and crops that offer little nutrition. Jaco Wolfaardt, commercial beekeeper and founder of Ubusi Beekeeping, spoke to Henning Naudé about keeping the bees and business abuzz.

time to read

7 mins

October24 -31, 2025

Farmer's Weekly

Farmer's Weekly

Owning and exercising endurance horses on a farm

Endurance riding is a recognised equestrian sport, but as Dr Mac writes, these horses can also be used to monitor farm fields and fences.

time to read

2 mins

October24 -31, 2025

Farmer's Weekly

How is snotsiekte spread?

Dear Prof McCrindle, My neighbour's threatening me with legal action because his cattle have snotsiekte. I own a registered game farm where I have kept wildebeest for several decades.

time to read

2 mins

October24 -31, 2025

Farmer's Weekly

Farmer's Weekly

The story of South Africa's sugar cane industry

South Africa's sugar industry grew from colonial ambition and Indian labour into a pillar of KwaZulu-Natal's economy, blending science, struggle and resilience to sweeten the nation's history and culture.

time to read

5 mins

October24 -31, 2025

Farmer's Weekly

Farmer's Weekly

Egg patty English muffins

Elevate your breakfast sandwich with these savoury egg patty English muffins! Made with quick and easy convenience, it is perfect for a weekend brunch.

time to read

1 min

October24 -31, 2025

Farmer's Weekly

The A to Z of internal parasites in cattle

Internal parasites can cause a loss of production and even death if severe enough. Integrated parasite management is essential for effective control. Janine Ryan reports.

time to read

8 mins

October24 -31, 2025

Farmer's Weekly

Heating soil not enough to release CO 2

According to a study by researchers at the North Carolina State University in the US heating alone won't drive soil microbes to release more carbon dioxide (CO2).

time to read

1 min

October24 -31, 2025

Farmer's Weekly

Farmer's Weekly

Resistance to internal and external parasite control in the beef cattle sector is a worry

Dr Dave Midgley, CEO of the Ruminant Veterinary Association of South Africa, believes that parasites’ growing resistance to anthelmintic remedies and an increasing parasite load among beef cattle in South Africa is a serious cause for concern. He spoke to Annelie Coleman.

time to read

5 mins

October24 -31, 2025

Farmer's Weekly

Farmer's Weekly

Cannabis roots: the untapped value beneath the canopy

Most cannabis growers obsess over canopy management, trichome development, and final flower weight. But there’s an entire half of the plant we're essentially throwing away, says Thomas Walker.

time to read

2 mins

October24 -31, 2025

Listen

Translate

Share

-
+

Change font size