Year: 2024
Relevance
Business planning is a challenging yet vital part of commercial aquaculture. Training is important for the success of the industry. These trainings included a variety of topics such as legal structures, inventory management, roles and responsibilities, disaster planning and developing an enterprise budget.
Response
Six separate events on business planning for oyster aquaculture were held during this reporting period, including a mix of in-person workshops and virtual webinars. Events were held throughout the United States and reached a combination of new and existing oyster farmers.
Results
Business planning events provided participants with tools and other resources to help develop a business plan for their commercial venture and an enterprise budget. Major topics covered included budgets, inventory management, marketing, disaster preparedness, workforce, water quality, regulatory knowledge and available resources. Exercises and other materials increased participant knowledge on the challenges of owning and operating a business specific to shellfish farming to increase their sustainability by understanding the characteristics of the workforce needed.
Recap
Through a series of workshops and seminars, over 250 individuals throughout the United States received training on business planning for oyster aquaculture.