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Hosted by University of Florida/IFAS FAU Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute UF/IFAS and FAU Harbor Branch, along with industry partners, have been engaged in a two-year monitoring and assessment project evaluating a broad range of factors in clam seed production facilities. These workshops will share findings focused on better understanding and alleviating seed mortality. Workshop topics to be covered include: Water quality parameters Bacteria and seed health concerns Nursery phytoplankton overview Useful tools for hatchery and nursery operators FDACS Gulf Coast Shellfish Nursery & Hatchery Grant Program Participate in-person or virtually July 25, 2023 I 2:00 – 4:00 pm University of

The water quality monitoring station at the Gulf Jackson Aquaculture  Use Zone (AUZ) in Cedar Key is up and running! Along with the Dog Island AUZ station, real-time information on water temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen and pH is available for these leases and can be viewed at the Online Resource Guide for Florida Shellfish Aquaculture website by visiting the LIVE Water Quality pages. History of Stations In 2002-3, monitoring equipment was originally installed at these lease areas and seven others in Florida with USDA funding. However, lack of continued funding resulted in most stations being dismantled ten years later. Since

In 2023, a network of growers was formed across the state to increase oyster mortality monitoring efforts and provide replication and environmental gradients. Growers received equipment, sampling supplies, and guidance so water quality, oyster performance, and health information could be obtained. Water Quality Commercial farms located in eight Shellfish Harvesting Areas (SHAs) were identified to monitor salinity and temperature. In-situ Aquatroll 100 dataloggers were deployed inside oyster bags and collect data hourly. Grower operators maintain loggers and download data via Bluetooth to a mobile app. Data are sent to UF staff and posted to the website dashboard. Data are not

The Pandemic Assistance Revenue Program (PARP) will assist eligible producers of agricultural commodities who experienced revenue decreases in calendar year 2020 compared to 2018 or 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. PARP will help address gaps in previous pandemic assistance, which was targeted at price loss or lack of market access, rather than overall revenue losses. For PARP, eligible agricultural commodities include aquaculture. USDA’s Farm Service Agency will accept PARP applications through June 2, 2023. PARP payments will be made on a whole-farm basis. To be eligible for PARP, a producer must have been in the business of farming during at

According to NOAA Fisheries, more than 80 percent of marine aquaculture production in the United States consists of bivalve mollusks such as oysters, clams and mussels. However, it’s not just humans who enjoy eating these shellfish, so do marine rays. They like to “crunch” on clams, which can sometimes take a big bite out of clammers’ profits. Researchers from Florida Atlantic University’s Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute in collaboration with Mote Marine Laboratory, assessed the ability of the whitespotted eagle ray to interact with clams housed within a variety anti-predator materials. “Based on our findings, many of the current anti-predator grow-out

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced today agricultural producers can begin to apply for two new important programs for revenue losses, from 2020 and 2021 natural disasters or the COVID-19 pandemic. Both programs equitably fill gaps in earlier assistance. First, you may be eligible for assistance through the Emergency Relief Program (ERP) Phase Two if you experienced revenue losses from eligible natural disasters in 2020 and 2021. ERP Phase Two is for producers who didn’t receive assistance from ERP Phase One. You may be eligible for the Pandemic Assistance Revenue Program (PARP) if you experienced revenue losses in the

To both improve biosecurity of shellfish seed transfers and reduce unnecessary hurdles to the shellfish aquaculture industry, the Regional Shellfish Seed Biosecurity Program (RSSBP, https://rssbp.org/) was created as a collaboration among members of the shellfish aquaculture industry, shellfish scientists and pathologists, state regulators, and extension professionals. What: Regional Shellfish Seed Biosecurity Program Webinar When: Friday, November 11, 2022, 1PM CDT (Noon ET) Shellfish growers and hatchery managers know the challenges of getting seed, and how complicated and costly this can get with state regulations, which usually require individual batch testing to provide assurance of biosecurity, freedom from pathogens or diseases,

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) offers voluntary Farm Bill programs that benefit both agricultural producers and the environment. In recent years, shellfish growers in other states have benefited by participating in the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), which provides technical and financial assistance to producers to address natural resource concerns and deliver environmental benefits, see fact sheet. Discussion is ongoing with NRCS staff on how this program could assist shellfish growers in designated counties impacted by Hurricane Ian remove debris and damaged farm gear from their submerged land leases and restore to pre-hurricane conditions. Shellfish growers are encouraged

For growers located in counties where the USDA Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) local infrastructure has been impacted by Hurricane Ian, the agency has established state-specific toll-free information lines where growers in need can receive immediate information regarding available FSA assistance. If your local FSA office is closed, you can contact the FSA Call Center at 1-877-508-8364. The line is staffed Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET or email:  SM.FPAC.FSA.FLFSA.Disaster@USDA.GOV.  If possible, FSA is requesting growers include their county in the subject line of the email, this will expedite the response time of our team. Reporting Losses/Submitting