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Year: 2023

Project(s):
Oyster aquaculture extension in Mississippi Commercial Oyster Aquaculture Sector Training (COAST) Program Costs and benefits of nursery techniques to improve oyster aquaculture and restoration Assessment of perceptions of marine aquaculture by the US food service industry Maximizing the return on investment of oyster aquaculture by managing mud blister worm infestation Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium Engagement - Commercial Oyster Aquaculture in Alabama and Mississippi Resilient Oyster Industry Community of Practice for Mississippi and Alabama Cooperative research to evaluate the ecosystem services provided by farm-raised oysters used for reef enhancement (Phase 1) Improving the (Off) bottom line: Identifying means to increase profits for commercial off-bottom oyster farmers Enhancing peer-to-peer learning opportunities for Southern oyster farmers Increasing the resilience of oyster farms to disasters Impacts of PFAS contaminants on oyster health and food safety Cooperative research to evaluate the ecosystem services provided by farm-raised oysters used for reef enhancement (Phase 2)

Relevance

The Gulf Coast oyster industry has suffered a number of setbacks, both natural and manmade, that have challenged an industry built around inexpensive, plentiful oysters. Off-bottom oyster farming for the premium half-shell market provides an opportunity for coastal residents to start new businesses that create jobs and provide high-quality oysters for the marketplace while benefiting the environment.
 

Response

Between 2018 and 2024, Sea Grant-funded specialists have worked closely with industry and regulators to provide in-person training to more than 60 individuals; developed 20 products reaching over 1,000 users; held 25 workshops with more than 1,500 participants in at least 10 communities to support commercial oyster aquaculture businesses; and directly engaged with oyster farmers more than 150 times to increase their resilience and viability through a variety of challenges.

Results

Based on information provided by the agencies in each state, there are now more than 400 acres permitted for off-bottom commercial oyster farming with approximately 160 acres in production that employ an estimated 80 workers generating millions of dollars in revenue annually, which is important to the coastal communities that have a long history in the seafood industry.

Recap

Between 2018 and 2023, Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant-funded programming was important in the establishment and sustainability of commercial oyster farming in Mississippi and expanding it in Alabama, which now is a multi-million-dollar industry annually and employs more than 80 people. (2018-2023)