Bio-Secure Transfer of Post-Set Oyster Seed from the Atlantic to the Gulf Coast 

This project is supported by the Shellfish Growers Resiliency Fund's (SOAR) Supporting Oyster Aquaculture and Restoration Grant Program. The goal is to expand our own business into the growing sector of Gulf aquaculture while also providing stability and growth potential for farms there. We intend to demonstrate satisfactory bio-security of seed produced from our proprietary setting system, which enables higher biosecurity. 

The objective of this project is to demonstrate a bio-secure protocol for transfer of newly set seed from the Atlantic Coast to the Gulf of Mexico using empirical data.  If successful, we intend to advocate for policy change in the Gulf as transfer of hatchery product is currently prohibited from the Atlantic to the Gulf currently. The Gulf of Mexico experienced a 50-85% decline of oyster populations from historic levels and various environmental and anthropogenic factors have hindered their recovery. The growth of oyster farming in the Gulf is outpacing the available seed supply within the Gulf, leaving shortfalls in the industry. This effort could eventually help stabilize and increase resilience in the Gulf industry. To our knowledge, no-one has taken a hands on lead in this solution, outside of strong advocacy efforts, such as the Regional Shellfish Seed Biosecurity Program (RSSBP).