The micro nursery

The micro-nursery plays a crucial role as a genuine nursery in the oyster production cycle. Once the larvae are ready to attach (known as pediveliger larvae), the hatchery team entrusts this crucial step of attachment to the micro-nursery team.

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At this stage of their development, the pediveliger larvae (also known as eyed larvae) are placed in sieves within specially designed basins. Filtered, purified, and heated seawater is regularly renewed, and a daily supply of phytoplankton (Skeletonema costatum) ensures their nutrition.

Introduced in the presence of natural oyster shell micro-fines, made up of finely crushed oyster shells sieved between 200 µ and 400 µ (microns), each larva then delicately attaches itself to a particle that is no larger than itself. This meticulous attachment allows for the formation of oysters, one by one.

A week after attachment, the oysters are sieved through a 400 µ (micron) mesh to remove excess micro-crushing. The metamorphosis has taken place! This is referred to as microspat. To ensure uniform size, the microspat will be sieved multiple times.

This microspat is then carefully nurtured for about ten days in a controlled environment until reaching a size of approximately 800 µ - 1000 µ (microns). At this stage, the spawn is sieved using a water sieve, then transported to our nurseries to continue its development.