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In the third method the spat or seed are placed in a cultch within an artificial maturation tank. The oysters are collected as seeds or juveniles, so they must be matured safely and effectively, in order for them to produce healthy oysters to be harvested. The maturation tanks used are often permeated with nutrient rich water, specially curated to accelerate the oyster’s growth rate. If the water is not maintained at its saltwater cold average, warm seasons may put adult oysters at risk of mortality. Tropical waters can bloom a toxic dinoflagellate known as Ostreopsis in their warm water. This benthic dinoflagellate can harm the oysters and make them unsafe for human consumption.

The temperature and salinity of the water may be altered somewhat from nearby ocean water, but an excess of acquired nutrients may do more harm than good. The carbonate minerals calcite and aragonite in the water may help oysters develop their shells faster. Maintaining cold water in the tanks also helps preserve the oysters shells. These shells allow the oysters to be protected from predators during their cultivation process. The Pacific oyster M. gigas is the species most commonly used with this type of farming, which can get a little pricey since this technique is the most expensive to manage of the three.