In Yantai, rope culture of oysters is a common culture method, especially suitable for intertidal zones or shallow sea areas. The following are the detailed steps and technical points of rope culture of oysters:
1. Selection of culture environment**
- **Sea conditions**: The waters around Yantai (such as Laizhou Bay, Changdao, Penglai, etc.) are clean, with moderate water flow and stable salinity (20-30‰), which are suitable for oyster growth.
- **Water depth**: Usually choose areas with a water depth of 2-10 meters. Rope culture is mostly used for subtidal zones or floating raft culture.
2. Preparation of culture rope**
- **Material**: Use corrosion-resistant polyethylene rope (about 1-2 cm in diameter) and adjust the length according to the water depth (usually 3-5 meters).
- **Attachment base**: Fix the oyster seedlings (single oyster seedlings or seedlings with shells) on the main rope with thin ropes or glue, with a spacing of about 10-15 cm to avoid mutual obstruction.

3. Cultivation methods**
#### **(1) Floating raft and rope culture (suitable for deeper waters)**
- **Floating raft construction**: Use bamboo poles, foam buoys and ropes to form a floating frame, hang the oyster rope vertically under the raft, and fix the lower end with a heavy object (such as a stone) to keep the rope vertical.
- **Advantages**: Oysters are always submerged in water, grow fast, and are less affected by tides.

#### **(2) Longline culture**
- **Setting**: Hang oyster ropes on the main cable at intervals and fix them at both ends with anchors. It is suitable for open sea areas.
- **Yantai application**: This method is often used in Changdao and other places, and has strong wind and wave resistance.

#### **(3) Intertidal zone pile frame**
- **Fixed piles**: Drive wooden or concrete piles in the intertidal zone, and fix the oyster rope horizontally or diagonally between the piles. It is submerged during high tide and exposed during low tide.
- **Note**: You need to choose a tidal flat with few reefs and a muddy bottom.

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### **4. Daily management**
- **Regular inspection**: Clean seaweed, barnacles and other organisms attached to the rope to prevent blockage.
- **Adjust density**: As the oysters grow, timely sparse cultivation (such as splitting the rope) to avoid crowding.
- **Disaster prevention**: Prevent ice and frost in winter and typhoons in summer (reinforce floating rafts).

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### **5. Harvest**
- **Cycle**: In Yantai area, it generally takes 1-2 years to reach commercial specifications (shell length 6-10 cm).
- **Method**: Lift the rope and cut the oysters with a knife or cut the fixed rope directly.