COAST Program

As the off-bottom oyster aquaculture industry expands, there is an increasing demand for skilled employees. Desired proficiencies include oyster production and husbandry, but also record keeping, boating and handling of product to ensure consumer safety. Although there are free online courses available for some of these skills, hands-on training in the industry is the best option. Therefore, the commercial oyster aquaculture industry needs workforce development programs that offer funding for on-farm training of apprentices.

In 2023, the Commercial Oyster Aquaculture Sector Training (COAST) program was initiated in the northern Gulf of America. This program is a workforce development initiative aimed to recruit workers to the oyster aquaculture industry and provide them with training to meet industry demand. The 2025-2027 funding cycle allows for participation of 10 apprentices in various aspects of oyster farming, including production and rearing, business management, food safety and serving. Participating businesses from Alabama and Mississippi receive a portion of the apprentice’s wages to support training efforts.

One benefit of this program is its flexibility, allowing the farm to select its own apprentice, determine the number of hours worked each week and identify areas of training needed for their business. Assessments to date indicate all apprentices increased their knowledge in oyster aquaculture competencies. In addition, all farms and apprentices indicated that they would be interested in continued participation in COAST. Suggestions for improvement of the program include providing more funding to allow apprentices to dedicate themselves to the industry full time, as well as some formal training outside of the on-farm duties.