Based on research field trials conducted in Alabama, the pros and cons of different gear types, fouling control methods, and management plans for storms are reviewed as well as the performance of oysters in these gear types. The effects of grading and tumbling on growth and shape of farmed oysters are also reviewed.
Scott Rikard manages Auburn University’s shellfish hatchery on Dauphin Island. He oversees both hatchery research activities and commercial production of seed for the oyster culture industry in the Gulf of Mexico. He brings an applied approach and practical experience to setting up and running a hatchery.
Auburn University Shellfish Lab
Email: rikarfs@auburn.edu