The Clayoquot Festival of Oysters and the Sea is a celebration of the abundance and beauty of the sea. In Clayoquot Sound, oysters give us lots to celebrate about. On most of the oyster farms in Clayoquot Sound, oysters hang on long lines in the deep, cold waters filtering water to eat and grow. Currently about 50,000 gallons of Pacific Oysters (Crassiostrea Gigas) are harvested annually in the area. Since oysters are such an important feature, the District of Tofino declared November Oyster Month in Tofino. Slurp into the mood and celebrate "Oysterember". When dining out this month, ask about oyster creations, and join in the festivities of the Clayoquot Festival of Oysters and the Sea   Early cultivation of the oyster was begun by the Greeks as early as the Fourth Century and very little has changed in technique since that time. The world's edible oysters belong to two genera: Ostrea and Crossostrea. The cultivated oysters grown in Clayoquot Sound are the Crossostrea Gigas, more commonly known as the Japanese or Pacific Oyster. This oyster was introduced to the West Coast in the early 1900's. While most commercial growing of oysters has traditionally been done on tidal beaches, the innovative, long-line method allows the delectable creatures to grow on strings dangling in the deep, cold waters of Clayoquot Sound. Oyster lovers will be heartened to know that oysters are high in Omega-3 fatty acid and taurin, known to clear the arteries and benefit the central nervous system. Oysters contain more proteins and carbohydrates than milk as well as the essential minerals of calcium, iodine, magnesium, iron, potassium, copper, sodium, zinc, phosphorous, manganese and sulfur, plus Vitamins A, B B², C, and D. Remarkably, oysters contain almost zero fat. Eating a dozen raw oysters will set a person back maybe 100 calories. Then there is the myth or truth about oysters as aphrodisiacs. Pharmacologically speaking, the Eros capacity of an oyster depends on the dopamine content - the vital neurotransmitter that provokes sexual interest and triggers responses. The zinc content of oysters makes them an ideal food to improve male fertility