v0 In 2019, the state of Texas passed into law a bill making commercial aquaculture of oysters legal in state waters for the first time. Initiation and expansion of the oyster aquaculture industry in Texas, with 367 miles of coastline, is a considerable opportunity to increase the production of farmed seafood in the state . One unique characteristic of Texas oysters is the presence of two distinct genetic groups found naturally along the northern and southern parts of the Texas coast, respectively. These populations naturally co-occur in a "transition zone" spanning several bay systems that are increasingly exploited in the oyster fishery and are also well-suited for oyster aquaculture. This presentation will highlight current progress towards establishing selective breeding programs for Texas oysters, including developments in hatchery capacity as well as future research directions.