When did oyster dredging start?

The history of oyster dredging dates back to ancient times, with evidence of dredging techniques being used during the Roman Empire around the 1st century AD. Oyster dredging was widely practiced throughout the Mediterranean Sea and other coastal regions, where people used rudimentary tools and equipment to harvest oysters from the seabed. Over the centuries, oyster dredging methods evolved and expanded to various parts of the world, becoming an important commercial activity in many countries.