To better understand the impacts of wave action on oyster performance and its interaction with other farming choices, triploid oysters were deployed utilizing the adjustable longline system at an oyster farm site near Deer Island, Mississippi characterized by frequent wave action. A full factorial experiment consisting of two wave action (natural, dampened) x three biofouling control (desiccated, power washed, submerged) x two stocking density (low, high) treatments was deployed in 96 baskets (n = 8 bags/treatment) at this site in a fully randomized design July 2020 (with oysters with a mean shell height of 28.6 mm) for a total of ~7 months with regular tending and periodic sampling throughout.
Natural wave action generally increased production quality metrics (cup ratio, condition, cleanliness) relative to dampened wave action treatments. Conversely, dampened wave action generally increased production quantity metrics (shell height, whole wet weight) relative to natural wave action treatments. Based on the results of this study, a farmer seeking to maximize product quantity in a lower wave action environment might employ submerged, lower stocking density treatments, while a farmer in a higher wave action environment might employ power washing, higher stocking density treatments. For increased product quality (regardless of wave action), weekly desiccation and lower stocking densities produced the highest quality. In the dampened wave action treatments, the weekly desiccated, higher stocking density treatment seemed to produce the best combination of quantity and quality. In the natural wave action treatments, the submerged, higher stocking density treatment seemed to produce the best combination of quantity and quality. This suggests that wave action may be a feature that farmers may be able to take advantage of in the production cycle.