Application of Triploidy to Oyster Culture on Florida’s West Coast

May 3, 2018

Natural triploids of the eastern oyster Crassostrea virginica have only been available for commercial use for the past 15-17 years elsewhere in the U.S., and not until 2014 in Florida. Despite the proof of concept in other coastal states, there is a need to understand whether the application of triploidy in the development of the emergent industry in Florida will result in increased production and economic gains. Florida represents the southernmost limit of natural distribution for the eastern oyster in the United States. In contrast to other states, Florida’s subtropical water temperatures result in a prolonged spawning season for oysters. The effects of triploidy, which results in reproductive sterility, on the performance of cultured oysters produced by tetraploid technology under these conditions have not yet been documented.

To address increased interest in oyster aquaculture, an applied research and demonstration project was conducted during 2016-17 to evaluate this oyster breeding process in Florida conditions. Diploid and triploid oysters were cultured at commercial farms in five counties and at the UF experimental site, where replicated field trials allowed for documenting effects of management practices on production. The results of the NOAA National Sea Grant-funded project can provide baseline information, allowing for comparisons as Florida-specific tetraploid broodstock are developed and as growers continue to improve management practices.

Workshops provided updates and results of two projects addressing the application of triploid-tetraploid technology on Florida’s west coast.

Agenda and Presentations

Topics and guest speakers included:

• Understanding the triploid process and developing Florida-specific tetraploid oyster broodstock, Huiping Yang, University of Florida/IFAS School of Forest Resources and Conservation, Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences Program
• Production performance of diploid and triploid oysters and effects of farm locations, gear types, seasonal harvests: Growers’ Trials, Leslie Sturmer, University of Florida/IFAS Shellfish Aquaculture Extension
• Comparison of stocking densities, float designs, and antifouling coatings on production: Results of UF Field Trials / Consumer evaluation of sensory characteristics, Carter Cyr, University of Florida/IFAS Shellfish Aquaculture Extension and Charles Sims, University of Florida/IFAS Food Science and Human Nutrition Department
• Health assessment—prevalence of Dermo, pests, and parasites, Nick Brandimarte and Susan Laramore, Florida Atlantic University, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute
• Economic assessment of environmental and market risks, Rusty Dame and Chuck Adams, University of Florida/IFAS Food and Resource Economics Department

Video Recording

For more information about this project, visit the Oyster Demonstration Project webpage.