As the oyster aquaculture industry begins to develop in Chesapeake Bay, the design of sustainable operations becomes paramount. The design of a novel salty indoor recirculating aquaculture system was explored by testing the efficacy of algal turf scrubbers, sphagnum moss, and ultraviolet radiation in reducing nitrogen, phosphorus and coliform indicator organisms, while maintaining superior taste. Additionally, the environmental sustainability of outdoor oyster aquaculture operations was evaluated using emergy synthesis.