Where do oyster seeds come from

Oyster seeds (also called spat) come from two main sources:

Oyster seeds (also called spat) come from two main sources:
1. Hatcheries (Most Common in Aquaculture)
Hatcheries breed adult oysters (called broodstock) in controlled environments.
The oysters are induced to spawn (release eggs and sperm), usually by adjusting water temperature and salinity.
The fertilized larvae are raised in tanks for 2–3 weeks, then encouraged to settle onto small shells or microchips.
Once they attach, they become “spat” — the early stage of oyster growth — and are called oyster seeds.

2. Wild Collection
In some areas, especially in traditional or low-tech farming systems, oyster larvae from the wild are collected when they naturally settle on shells or other surfaces placed in the water by farmers.
These wild-set spat are harvested and relocated to grow-out areas.
Hatchery-produced seeds are more reliable, disease-resistant, and genetically selected, which is why they’re widely used in modern oyster farming.