CURRENT STATUS OF OYSTER AQUACULTURE ON ALABAMA'S GULF COAST

Following attempts in Bon Secour Bay in the 1990s and Grand Bay in the early 2000s, off-bottom oyster aquaculture has recently become established in Alabama's coastal waters, with the first commercial harvest from a single farm in 2010. While harvest quantity and value are limited (conservatively estimated at 1 million pieces and $500,000 wholesale value in 2014), the industry appears to be growing. Current seed orders for 2015 by Alabama oyster farmers exceed 7 million seed. There are 14 distinct commercial oyster farms now in operation, with at least 24 acres under active cultivation, and at least 20 people working on these farms. With this development, two new wholesale operations have been established, as well as a commercial nursery, and two aquaculture gear distributors. This development was supported by Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant, National Sea Grant, Alabama Cooperative Extension System and Auburn University, and the Organized Seafood Association, all in cooperation with state agencies.