In a way, "The Oyster Farmers" is a film centuries in the making. The new documentary covers Barnegat Bay's lost oyster culture, from its thriving state in the 1800s to efforts to preserve its heritage today.

The movie, produced by independent distributor Virgil Films, was released Tuesday on iTunes and Amazon. "The Oyster Farmers" highlights the importance of conservation, especially within the oyster world.

The Barnegat Bay was home to one of the largest oyster seed beds in the 1800s. Over-harvesting and diseased wiped out the population, which has had a significant ecological impact over the last century, according to the film.