The southeastern states from north carolina to texas are expanding intensive shellfish aquaculture using floating gear

The University of Georgia Research Foundation, Inc. received a $110,446 Cooperative Agreement from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) under the Sea Grant Support program (CFDA 11.417), awarded September 1, 2025, with completion by August 31, 2026. This project facilitates knowledge transfer in shellfish aquaculture by organizing an international study mission for seven participants—two extension professionals and five oyster lease holders from the southeastern United States—to New Zealand. The delegation will tour a Marlborough oyster farm to examine the Flipfarm system, visit a Pacific oyster hatchery, and attend the New Zealand Aquaculture Meeting in Nelson. These activities directly address the region's expanding oyster farming sector, which grew from 73 farms to 163 farms between 2018 and 2023, and respond to grower needs regarding harvest efficiency, particularly during Vibrio control periods with constrained harvest windows.

The project delivers comprehensive outreach and evaluation products to disseminate findings to the broader aquaculture community. Deliverables include an abstract presentation at the New Zealand Aquaculture Meeting showcasing the NOAA Sea Grant-funded Peer to Pier Program, a story map documenting the study mission, pre- and post-survey assessments measuring participant learning outcomes, and presentations of trip results and findings at national conferences and meetings. This structured approach ensures that technologies and best practices identified through the international exchange are effectively communicated to oyster farmers and stakeholders across the southeastern region to support productivity and efficiency improvements in Eastern oyster aquaculture operations.

From 2018 to 2023, the number of oyster farms increased from 73 to 163 and harvest efficiency is a subject that comes up often, in addition to growth and survival, especially during vibrio control months where harvest windows are short to ensure food safety. To increase productivity and efficiency oyster farmers are interested in learning more about technologies that have been produced in new zealand for the pacific oyster industry that have application to eastern oyster aquaculture. The goal of this project is to take a group seven people, two extension and five shellfish lease holders to new zealand to tour marlborough oyster farm to learn more about the flipfarm system for growing oysters, tour a pacific oyster hatchery, and attend the new zealand aquaculture meeting in nelson, NZ. Outreach will be a two-pronged approach by submitting an abstract to present at the new zealand aquaculture meeting on the sea grant funded peer to pier program and creating a story map of the trip. To gauge grower experience, a pre and post survey will be conducted and results along with an overview of the trip will be presented at national conferences and meetings.