Year: 2019
Project(s):
Relevance
In response to historic freshwater inputs from the Bonnet Carre Spillway, newly established Mississippi oysters farms struggled with extended closures and dramatic crop losses. Oyster farmers requested assistance with options to increase crop survival and recovery strategies.
Response
In 2019, Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium-supported (MASGC) extension specialists provided technical expertise in production, marketing and insurance to Mississippi oyster farmers, including helping arrange a transfer of oysters to cooperating farms in Alabama where the crop could avoid the lower salinities experienced in Mississippi, which would have killed all of the oysters.
Results
Because many farmed oysters were saved due to the quick response by MASGC-supported extension specialists all four oyster farms remained in business and expanded production in 2019 for an intended 2020 harvest. In addition, one Mississippi farmer also established a cooperative agreement to raise part of his crop in Alabama with an Alabama farmer.
Recap
Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant provided technical advice to four off-bottom oyster-farming operations in Mississippi to help them increase production and recover from freshwater events. (2019)