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The Oyster South Symposium (OSS) is being held by Oyster South, Inc. (a non-profit dedicated to advancing oyster aquaculture in the southern US), in collaboration with National Sea Grant, to bring together producers, gear suppliers, distributors, chefs, food writers, vendors, researchers, students and managers from the southeast region to discuss pressing issues and relevant, practical research on oyster aquaculture on January 27-28th, 2017 in Auburn, AL. Registration includes admission to all informational sessions (all day Friday and Saturday morning), all breaks, lunch on Friday, January 27th, the mixer on Friday night, and the trade show. Meeting fees are based on current

In less than 30 years, 3,000-year-old oyster reefs off Florida’s Big Bend coastline have declined by 88 percent, according to UF/IFAS researchers. For residents who depend on the fishing grounds and other coastal resources protected by these reefs, it’s a worrying trend. Now, thanks to an award of up to $8.3 million from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s  Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund, a UF/IFAS research team will work to restore these shrinking oyster reefs and help coastal ecosystems — and economies — become more resilient in the face of climate change and rising tides. “This grant is one more

Offshore oyster reefs along the Big Bend coast of Florida have declined by 88% during the last 30 years, with the most likely mechanism being repeated die-offs due to predation and disease during high salinity periods, driven by episodic and increasing periods of reduced freshwater input to estuaries. These die-off events have led to a conversion from shell to sandbar substrate and rapid loss of elevation (about 3 inches per year). This process appears to be nonreversible, because oyster spat are unable to colonize sandy substrate. A pilot project conducted by University of Florida researchers and funded by grants from

For nearly 50 years, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Sea Grant College Program (NSGCP) has invested in the development of sustainable marine aquaculture businesses. Sea Grant will likely be investing $50 to $100 million in aquaculture research and technology transfer over the next 10 years. A clear vision will help guide strategic investments to support and expand the aquaculture industry. In March 2016, the Sea Grant Association established a committee to develop a 10-year vision for aquaculture investments by NOAA’s NSGCP. The purpose of this 10-year vision is to (1) determine Sea Grant’s most appropriate roles over

The United States Aquaculture Society, National Aquaculture Association and North Central Regional Aquaculture Center are offering a free webinar entitled, Seafood in the Diet: Benefits and Risks – Farm-Raised and Wild. Although there is a growing body of evidence that consuming more seafood is essential to maintaining good health, annual average per capita seafood consumption in the United States dropped significantly in 2011 – 2014. The United States Department of Agriculture 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines strongly recommend two seafood meals per week and most other health related organizations including the American Heart Association and the National Academy of Sciences have similar

The United States Aquaculture Society, North Central Regional Aquaculture Center and National Aquaculture Association, are offering a free webinar for oyster farmers about branding opportunities in a growing oyster market with an increasing number of varieties. To help oyster farmers sort out opportunities and pitfalls of branding, this webinar will feature a panel of experts, including Rowan Jacobsen, author of The Essential Oyster, Beth Walton, executive director of Oyster South, Bryan Rackley, co-owner and shellfish manager of Kimball House, and Bill Walton, Associate Professor with the Auburn University’s School of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences. This informative webinar will cover: Potential value of branding

The October 2016 issue of the Florida Trend magazine features aquaculture in their cover story, entitled Pompano and circumstance. According to the article, aquaculture has become the fastest-growing form of food production globally — in 2013, production of fish and other seafood eclipsed production of beef. In the United States, the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, the nation’s aquaculture support entity, wants to expand the volume of U.S. ocean-species production by at least 50% in the next four years. In Florida, however, aquaculture has a way to go. The state has well-established operations producing tilapia, sturgeon (for caviar), alligators, catfish,

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. Growers who elect