Techniques to Improve Production of
Off-bottom Cultured Oysters ​

This project addressed biofouling controls on floating oyster cages (OysterGro™) throughout seven southern U.S. states (NC, SC, GA, FL, AL, MS, LA) by employing two strategies: aerial drying (‘flipping’) and biocide-free, antifouling coating. Project objectives included: 

1. Determine the impacts of cage manipulation to decrease biofouling, and evaluate the effects on time to harvest, survival, and morphometric factors, such as meat weight and shell shape (height, length, depth).
2. Determine the impacts of antifouling agents to decrease biofouling, and evaluate the effects on time to harvest, survival, and morphometric factors, such as meat weight and shell shape (height, length, depth).
3. Determine the economic impact of each methodology on production costs.                                                                                                                              

PROJECT TEAM: