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 excessive rainfall. In addition to the underlying policy, oyster growers can elect to sign-up for the Hurricane Wind Index and Tropical Storm.
The Sales Closing Date for the shellfish (oyster) policy for crop year 2025 is November 30, 2024.
To learn more about this pilot program, visit these resources posted to RMA’s website,
https://www.rma.usda.gov/about-crop-insurance/highlighted-initiatives-plans/shelish
Approved insurance providers sell and service this policy. An agent locator tool that can help growers locate crop insurance agents in their area can be found here:
https://public-rma.fpac.usda.gov/apps/AgentLocator/#!/#%2F.
