Oystering

Oysters are a Florida delicacy. Each year, Florida’s oyster fishers pull millions of dollars’ worth of these mollusks out of the water. Oystering is often a family affair, with skills and practices being passed down from generation to generation. Harvesting and processing the oysters calls for special tools and the ability to efficiently open the shells without damaging the delicate meat inside. Most oyster fishers develop their own distinctive techniques for tonging and shucking over time, and sometimes create new tools to aid their work.