Written by Thomas Ruppert, Florida Sea Grant On May 22, 2014, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) released its predictions for the Atlantic hurricane season, which begins June 1.
As of January 2014, the National Sanitation Shellfish Program’s (NSSP) Model Ordinance was modified to include new food safety training requirements. These changes initiated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are outlined in NSSP Guide Section II, Model Ordinance Chapter X. Under the new mandate, shellfish harvesters, shellfish growers, authorized users, or anyone working on an aquaculture lease must participate in an approved training program on processing, handling, and transportation practices prior to certification, recertification, or licensing.
On April 28, a survey committee selected George F. Young Inc. to proceed with surveying and marking the Dog Island and Corrigan’s Reef Shellfish Aquaculture Lease Expansions in the vicinity of Cedar Key, Levy County. It is anticipated that the field work will be completed by mid-June.
The Cedar Key clam farming industry received widespread attention when National Public Radio (NPR) broadcasted a story entitled Forced To Put Its Nets Away, One Florida Town Clams Up – Literally.
The National Shellfisheries Association (NSA) hosted their 106th annual meeting in Jacksonville, Florida this spring. Eight presentations were given by seven UF research and extension faculty on topics ranging from economics, clam genetics, oyster culture, ponderous arks, to aqueous soils.
Twelve Florida hatchery and nursery operations are supplying molluscan shellfish seed to growers this year. Species include hard clams, oysters, sunray venus, and bay scallops. A list of these shellfish seed suppliers can be accessed by going to Suppliers on this website or by viewing below. Contact suppliers for information on species, seed sizes, price, color variation, and availability. This list is provided as a service of the UF IFAS Shellfish Aquaculture Extension Program. We do not sponsor or endorse any of these suppliers over any others.
University of Florida | IFAS
Shellfish Aquaculture Research & Extension
11350 SW 153rd Court I P.O. Box 89
Cedar Key, FL 32625
Phone: (352) 543-5057
