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News // Featured News

Genetic Health of Wild and Cultured Florida Clam Stocks

December 4, 2015

So how much genetic diversity is present in hard clam hatchery stocks in Florida relative to the state’s wild populations? This was the focus of research conducted by Dr. James Austin and his doctoral student, John Hargrove, with the UF IFAS Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation. In order to address this question, samples were collected from six commercial clam hatcheries along with four wild populations sourced from the east coast of Florida. A standardized set of genetic markers was used to test if there were significant differences among the various sources.

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Free Webinar – Growing Your Aquaculture Business: Is It Time to Expand or Diversify?

November 9, 2015

The National Aquaculture Association is hosting a free one-hour webinar, Growing Your Aquaculture Business: Is It Time to Expand or Diversify? on November 10th, which will discuss aquaculture business decisions as to whether it is time for the business to either expand or diversify into a new crop, a new product, or a new market. The focus of the webinar will be on the key factors that need to be considered to decide whether such steps would be economically advantageous for the aquaculture business.

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Results of 2014-15 ARC Projects Presented

November 2, 2015

Results of two 2014-15 Florida Aquaculture Projects, conducted by the Shellfish Aquaculture Extension Program in collaboration with other UF faculty and funded by the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, were presented to the Aquaculture Review Council in Bartow on October 6. Presentations of both projects can be accessed below as PDF files. Evaluating the Efficacy of Several Net Coatings in Reducing Biofouling on Culture Gear and Increasing Hard Clam Production in Florida.pdf “Green” Clams: Assessing, Quantifying, and Promoting the Value of Ecosystem Services Provided by the Florida Hard Clam Aquaculture Industry.pdf

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Florida Clams Website is Launched

October 5, 2015

The Florida Clams website was developed by the UF IFAS Shellfish Aquaculture Extension Program, in partnership with the Florida shellfish aquaculture industry, to promote cultured clams as an environmentally friendly and sustainable seafood product. With funding provided by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Aquaculture, the site informs buyers, consumers, and resource managers on how clams are grown, environmental benefits of the industry, where to buy clams, how to buy and prepare clams, and much more. To visit this new website, go to www.flaclams.com.

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Office of Aquaculture Seeks Comments on Draft Marine Aquaculture Strategic Plan

October 5, 2015

The Office of Aquaculture seeks public input on the Draft NOAA Fisheries FY 2016-2020 Strategic Plan for Marine Aquaculture.  Comments will be accepted 30 days, ending October 22, 2015. The Plan identifies objectives and strategies associated with four strategic goals:  Regulatory Efficiency, Tools for Management, Technology Development and Transfer, and an Informed Public. The Plan will guide NOAA Fisheries’ efforts to advance responsible U.S. marine aquaculture.

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Marketing Cultured Oysters Video Available

October 5, 2015

The Marketing Cultured Oysters Workshop held at the FSU Coastal and Marine Laboratory on May 6th was videotaped and can now be viewed at the Oyster Culture Topic Page of the website (http://shellfish.ifas.ufl.edu/oyster-culture/). Topics, such as niche marketing, marketing strategies to target key buyers, promotional materials for marketing Florida oysters, and harvesting and processing requirements for oysters during the summer months were presented by Robert Rheault, Executive Director of the East Coast Shellfish Growers Association; Martin May, Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (DACS), Bureau of Seafood and Aquaculture Marketing; and, Kim Norgren, DACS Division of Aquaculture.

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Coastal Cleanup set for September 19

September 14, 2015

The 30th Annual International Coastal Cleanup, taking place on September 19th this year, is the world’s largest volunteer effort to help protect the ocean. Sponsored by the Ocean Conservancy, it has become the world’s largest volunteer effort for ocean health. An astounding 560,000 volunteers in 91 countries picked up more than 16 million pounds of trash from the shores of lakes, streams, rivers, and the ocean on just one day in last year’s International Coastal Cleanup.

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New FL Sales Tax Exemptions for Agriculture

August 27, 2015

During the 2015 state legislative session, several new Florida Sales Tax Exemptions for Agriculture were passed with direct application to aquaculture. The following is an excerpt from House Bill 33 that became effective July 1, 2015. “Livestock” includes all animals raised for commercial purposes. The term “livestock” also includes all aquaculture products, as defined in s. 597.0015 Florida Statutes (F.S.), and identified by the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services pursuant to s. 597.003 F.S.

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Cultured Clams are Green!

August 4, 2015

Molluscan shellfish (oysters, clams, mussels) provide a favorable environment for the coastal waters in which they are grown. The unique sustainability of Florida clam aquaculture was demonstrated in a University of Florida (UF) study conducted during 2014-15 with funding from the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Florida Aquaculture Program. Three environmentally-beneficial ecosystem services (water filtration, nitrogen removal and carbon storage) provided by clam farming were examined with values determined for several commercial harvest sizes.

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Sign-up for NAP Coverage by September 1

August 3, 2015

The Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP), administered by the USDA Farm Service Agency(FSA), provides financial assistance to growers of non-insurable crops to protect against natural disasters that result in crop losses. NAP provides catastrophic level (CAT) coverage based on the amount of loss that exceeds 50% of expected production at 55% of the average market price for the crop. The 2014 Farm Bill authorizes additional coverage levels ranging from 50 to 65% of production, in 5% increments, at 100% of the average market price. Additional coverage must be elected by a grower by the application closing date.

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Cedar Key, FL 32625
Phone: (352) 543-5057

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