noun
- Plural of cultch; oyster shells and other debris used as a base for oyster larvae to attach and grow in oyster beds.
Usage: nautical; aquaculture
Examples
- The oyster farmers spread cultches across the bay to encourage spat settlement.
- Cultches provide a rough surface where young oysters can attach themselves.
- The hatchery uses crushed cultches to improve oyster recruitment rates.
- Without adequate cultches, the oyster population in the estuary declined significantly.