Oystermen sometimes use an invention called a starmop to collect seastars from the oyster bed. Like all things, oysters can be scientifically classified. The common oyster is found from the Gulf of Mexico to Cape Cod and southern Maine. Long Island Sound and its large, shallow bays, estuaries, and creeks provide an excellent habitat for oysters. They need a water temperature of 32-78 degrees Farenheit, plenty of plankton as food, and a clean, hard surface to live on.
Oysters are well adapted to the tidal changes in estuaries.
People have harvested oysters from Long Island Sound and its estuaries for centuries. Oysters were once so plentiful they could be gathered by hand along the shore. Later, people used boats such as dugout canoes and sailing sharpies. You can look at our Oystering Sloop, Nellie .