Featured News Archives - Florida Shellfish Aquaculture Online Resource Guide

USDA NRCS provides Disaster Assistance for Shellfish Growers

November 25, 2024

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Florida has begun accepting applications for disaster assistance funding through the Emergency Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). Approximately $1 million will be made available for Florida shellfish growers to help in recovering from Hurricanes Debby, Helene, and Milton by addressing resource concerns on their farms. The sign-up period for this disaster assistance ends on December 20, 2024. EQIP disaster assistance funding addresses Conservation Practice 400 – Bivalve Aquaculture Gear and Biofouling Control. This voluntary practice involves cycling a minimum of 20% of new or clean gear with production gear in waters where

Rebuilding Florida Fisheries Program

November 20, 2024

The Rebuilding Florida Fisheries Program was established to provide financial assistance from the Florida Disaster Fund and the Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida to support fishery participants impacted by the 2024 Florida hurricane season. This application serves to provide direct payments to support immediate needs to reopen fishery operations. Requests to repair or replace fishery-related items and equipment, as well as reimbursement for repairs and replacements already performed, are eligible through this program. Eligible fishery-related components include, but are not limited to, docks, boat slips, brick and docks, boat slips, brick and mortar infrastructure, ice machines and other related

Deadline to sign-up for oyster crop insurance is Nov. 30th

November 15, 2024

The Shellfish Pilot Crop Insurance Program available through the USDA Risk Management Agency (RMA) is in its second year with several revisions to the policy. RMA has expanded availability to all Florida counties where commercial oyster aquaculture occurs. Also, shellfish seed purchased at an uninsurable size and reared in a grower’s nursery system to an insurable size can now be covered. The pilot program, which is an actual production history-price component coverage policy, provides for protection against losses due to named storms, excessive heat during a low tide event, freeze during a low tide event, or low salinity due to

Voice of the Sea TV episode on Farming Clams, Oysters & Sponges in Florida

October 16, 2024

In a video episode of Voice of the Sea TV produced by the University of Hawaii, Hawaii Sea Grant (HSG) researchers traveled to the Gulf of Mexico in May to meet up with Florida Sea Grant faculty and partners, and learn about farming clams, oysters, and sponges. Then, HSG checked out oysters growing in living shorelines and learned how these systems actively protect coastal areas from erosion and storm damage. From Cedar Key, HSG headed Tampa Bay where clam farmers are growing food clams as well as native clams for ecosystem restoration. Then, HSG headed offshore to visit sponge aquaculture research sites

Sign-up for NAP and ELAP by September 30

August 28, 2024

The Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) and Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-raised Fish Program (ELAP) can provide shellfish growers with catastrophic coverage for losses due to natural disasters. The deadline to sign-up for these programs and provide an acreage report is September 30 for coverage of crop year 2025. Both programs are serviced by your local USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) office. To find your county office, go to https://www.fsa.usda.gov/state-offices/Florida/index. See fact sheets for NAP and ELAP for more information. For NAP, clam growers are required to maintain a monthly inventory. Monthly inventory records are to be kept up to date and

Position Announcement – Biological Scientist II

July 24, 2024

This position will serve as biological staff at the University of Florida/IFAS Shellfish Aquaculture Program.

Save the Dates: Workshops on Risk Assessment and Management for Shellfish Growers

June 21, 2024

Shellfish growers are confronted with many decisions incorporating various levels of risk throughout a production season. These workshops will help growers to assess and identify production, market, and legal liability risks; understand what crop insurance and disaster assistance programs are available to protect their operations from these risks; and learn what resources and tools are available to improve risk management. Tuesday, July 9, 11:30am-1:00pm, Capt. Hirams-Blackfins, Sebastian Tuesday, July 9, 3:30-5:00pm, Marine Discovery Center, New Smyrna Beach Wednesday, July 10, 3:00-5:00pm, UF Nature Coast Biological Station, Cedar Key Thursday, July 11, 3:00-5:00pm, FSU Coastal and Marine Lab, St. Teresa See

FL Aquaculture Educators & Industry Member Workshop

April 22, 2024

Calling all Florida aquaculture industry members and aquaculture educators! Florida Aquaculture Association is hosting an immersive workshop with multiple sessions and facility tours on June 20 and 21, 2024. Register by May 10th: https://www.flaa.org/2024aquacultureworkshop.

Using Shellfish for Water Quality Improvement in Florida

April 16, 2024

Missed the workshop on Assessment of Using Shellfish for Water Quality Improvement in Florida? If you couldn’t attend the workshop, don’t worry! Video recordings are available. To access the workshop agenda, presentations, handouts, and video recordings, visit the following link: https://go.ufl.edu/workshop. During the workshop, results were presented from a 2-year grant funded by The Nature Conservancy SOAR program. Regulatory and incentive-based policies were reviewed related to bivalve-based restoration for water quality improvement. Additionally, a Florida Shellfish Calculator (https://ufl864.outgrow.us/ufl864-2) was developed, which estimates the amount and potential monetary value of nitrogen removal services that clam and oyster farming provides. For more

Funding Available for Shellfish Farms

April 8, 2024

Virtual Info Session Funding Available for Shellfish FarmsApril 11, 20243:00 p.m Eligible shellfish farmers and businesses that were affected by Hurricane Idalia are able to receive funding to cover wages, clean up, recovery, and more. Please join us for an informational session to learn how CareerSource Citrus Levy Marion can offset the expense of restoring your operation – at no cost to you. Here’s what you’ll learn about: How disaster assistance programs can help you pay your workers How this funding can be used in clean up and recovery efforts Webinar link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89150261573Call-In Information: 1-386-347-5053; Meeting ID: 891 5026 1573

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