Year: 2019
Project(s):
Relevance
Prior to 2009, oyster aquaculture did not exist in Alabama and the natural reefs were in decline due to over harvesting and environmental factors. Prior to 2018, oyster aquaculture did not exist in Mississippi. Oyster aquaculture is important to the coastal communities for economic and cultural reasons.
Response
A Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium-supported training program and oyster park were established in Mississippi and Alabama to introduce residents interested in starting a commercial oyster farm to the industry. Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant extension specialists provided ongoing technical, scientific and business support to the oyster farming industry. The program included three days in class course work and two days of training in the field.
Results
The commercial oyster aquaculture industry began in 2009 and has expanded rapidly since the initial Sea Grant-supported off-bottom oyster aquaculture training program was launched 2012. These collaborative efforts helped create at least 42 full-time jobs and 30 part-time jobs, with at least $1.4 million dockside value of farmed oysters in Alabama in 2019.
Recap
Sea Grant training, technical support and applied research supported at least 9 new commercial oyster farms in Mississippi and 21 established commercial off-bottom oyster farms in Alabama, which helped create at least 42 full-time jobs and 30 part-time jobs, with at least $1.4 million dockside value of farmed oysters in 2019. (2019)