A biannual newsletter of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, State Lands Division, Coastal Section and the National Estuary Program

SPRING 2020 • Vol. XIV, Issue 1 The : An Icon of Life on the Alabama Gulf Coast

By Roberta Swann, Director, Mobile Bay National Estuary Program

One thing I have learned since moving to Alabama 20 years ago is this: you can’t beat the salty, creamy taste of an oyster grown in our waters. Wild or farmed, the oyster is an iconic representative of life along the Alabama coast. They are central to its heritage and culture, providing food, work, and a way of life to many of the folks in Bon Secour, Bayou La Batre, and other coastal communities. Having grown up in coastal Massachusetts, eating has always been a part of my life. It wasn’t until I moved to Dauphin Island that I discovered how good oysters could be and how important they are to the people who live and grew up here. Continued on page 2 Commercial oyster men tonging oysters The Oyster: An Icon of Life on near Cedar Point. Side-Scan Mapping 1 the Alabama Gulf Coast side 7 of Mobile Bay Relic Oyster Reefs Currently In The Problem: Diminished Wild Oyster Guest Column - Q&A with Gage Swann 3 Production in Alabama’s Estuarine Waters 8 Applying Research to Increase Oyster Alabama Marine Resources Division Off-Bottom Oyster Aquaculture – An 14 Restoration Success – Using Predator Scent to 4 Oyster Hatchery at the Claude Peteet 10 Emerging Industry Along the Gulf Coast Encourage Development of More Robust Shells Mariculture Center and Remote Set Facility on Dauphin Island 11 Alabama’s Oyster Shell Recycling Program 15 Oyster Gardening in Alabama Oyster Cultch Relief and Reef The Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Oyster South: Successful Farms and 6 Configuration – Mounds and Furrows 12 Consortium’s Support of the Oyster 16 Healthy Waters Industry: Past, Present and Future The Oyster: An Icon of Life on the Alabama Gulf Coast Continued from page 1

The state of our oyster fishery is a cause for concern, given dwindling wild populations. Alabama’s oyster reefs in Mobile Bay, Bon Secour Bay, around Cedar Point, and in Mississippi Sound are suffering. Harvests were historically low in 2016-2017 and 2017-2018, and surveys revealed so few harvestable oysters that no harvest was opened in 2018-2019. The factors underlying the reduced productivity are discussed by Alabama Marine Resources Division Director Scott Bannon in this issue, along with three separate measures AMRD is undertaking to better manage wild oyster has given rise to a new and burgeoning about the Sea Grant’s significant role in populations. industry: off-bottom oyster aquaculture. the development and evolution of this And yet, there is great work being Some former oyster gardeners and new exciting new industry. done to bring Alabama-grown oysters investors have expanded operations, When we moved to Alabama, back to our tables. Gulf oysters grow providing hatchery-reared, single-set did I ever imagine the little boy held rapidly and can reach maturity in as few oysters with a lovely shape and appearance tight on my lap as we plowed through as six months, compared to northeastern to the premium half-shell market by count. Mobile Bay’s waves would grow up to oysters which take four times that long. This issue is of particular importance become an oyster farmer? The answer is This simple fact provides a key for to the Swann family. As the leader of unequivocally NO. But today LaDon and alternative methods of growing oysters. the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant I stand proud of our son, Gage, who has As you flip through the pages of this Consortium, Dr. LaDon Swann has a bright future ahead of him, harvesting season’s Alabama Current Connection, dedicated many years of oyster-related an oyster bounty, carving out a life on the learn about how oyster gardening, an research as well as being a proponent of water, and keeping our plates full of the outreach activity initially conceived to growing the State’s aquaculture industry. succulent, Alabama grown oyster. My improve productivity on our wild reefs, In the following pages you will learn heart is happy.

Oysters being loaded onto the Mobile Oyster Company barge on Dauphin Island.

2 Alabama current connection The Problem: Diminished Wild Oyster Production in Alabama’s Estuarine Waters

By Col. Scott Bannon, Director, Alabama Marine Resources Division

The Alabama Department of multiple negative influences have contributed. Conservation and Natural Resources Hurricanes Ivan (2004) and Katrina Marine Resources Division (AMRD), (2005) caused physical damage to reefs, with offices on Dauphin Island and moved sediment into and around oyster in Gulf Shores, is charged with beds, and triggered rapid changes in managing Alabama’s marine fishery salinity by dumping inches of rainfall. resources with assessment and These storms were followed by several years of drought, stimulating tremendous monitoring, applied research, and predation by drills, along with previously enforcement programs. Alabama’s discussed hypoxia and then prolonged iconic oyster fishery has been the rain events reducing salinity to dangerous focus of increased AMRD attention levels for extended periods of time, all due to downward trends for the past contributing to declining oyster several years for harvestable oysters. populations. In fact, after extremely low harvests in Wild oysters with irregular shapes caused by Over the next three years, AMRD 2016-2017 and 2017-2018, assessments growing in clusters and typical barnacle fouling. staff will implement a management plan of harvestable oysters were too low to developed by the Alabama Trustee even attempt an opening in fall of 2018 or and survival, and hypoxic (low oxygen) Implementation Group as part of the spring of 2019. Restricted oyster harvest conditions are common near the bottom of Natural Resource Damage Assessment was opened by AMRD in late 2019. Mobile Bay. (NRDA): the Deepwater Horizon Oil To assess Alabama’s public oyster reefs, Salinity swings stress juvenile oysters Spill Alabama Trustee Implementation AMRD divers annually perform counts in at least two ways. Spat recruitment Group Final Restoration Plan II and within “quadrats” – one-square-yard areas has been found to be greatest in locations Environmental Assessment (https://www. randomly selected and falling along 300- furthest from freshwater influence, and gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov/sites/default/ foot lines stretched at intervals across the prolonged low salinity conditions caused files/2018-09%20AL%20RP%20II%20 reef’s footprint. Within each quadrat, the by significant or prolonged rain events are EA%20and%20Appendices_091318.pdf). divers count legal-sized oysters (three inches particularly stressful to them. Conversely, This Plan recommends strategies to counter or longer), sub-legal-sized oysters (between while higher, less brackish salinities do not the stressors impacting wild oysters in two and three inches long), oyster spat (tiny, stress young oysters physiologically, they Alabama waters. Recommended projects, young, recently settled oysters measuring instead provide conditions preferred by the with funding from NRDA, include stock less than two inches), and oyster drills oyster’s primary predator, the oyster drill. enhancement through construction of an (predators) and then calculate numbers of Wild oyster production in Alabama is oyster hatchery at the Claude Peteet each per acre. These data are used to measure critical for several reasons. Oysters are a Mariculture Center in Gulf Shores and oyster productivity trends and determine necessary part of a healthy estuary because expansion of AMRD’s remote set facility status. Data have revealed a dramatic of their impressive filtration capabilities on Dauphin Island as a base for the “grow- downward trend over recent years for and provision of food sources and complex out phase” of hatchery-produced oysters, harvestable oysters, despite spat counts habitat opportunities for a variety of fish, benthic scanning to identify and prioritize remaining relatively high. shellfish, and wildlife. Additionally, they locations in the upper and middle Bay This inconsistency may be related to provide a source of food for American capable of sustaining spawning stocks to high spat mortality caused by low dissolved consumers and income for communities support a regional oyster larval pool, and oxygen in some areas, low salinity events in south Alabama. The decline in oysters reef restoration using alternative methods of triggered by storm-related freshwater influx, for public harvest, indicated in AMRD cultch placement to avoid hypoxia or other or predation related to drought and the surveys, forced the Division to look hard at hydrologic stressors to oyster growth. resulting higher salinities favored by oyster this valuable resource. These three projects are each described in predators. Sufficient oxygen concentrations While no single cause can be blamed this edition of the Alabama Current are necessary for spat growth, development, for the decline that began around 2004, Connection. Alabama current connection 3 Alabama Marine Resources Division Oyster Hatchery at the Claude Peteet Mariculture Center and Remote Set Facility on Dauphin Island

Remote Set Facility at the AMRD offices on Dauphin Island.

By Col. Scott Bannon, Director, and Jason Hermann, Biologist II, Alabama Marine Resources Division

The State of Alabama is ample space, a reliable water supply (via committed to investing in the long- pumping stations from the Gulf and term productivity of its oyster fishery. Intracoastal Waterway), outdoor ponds, and waterfront access to make transport The Alabama Marine Resources of cultured oysters easier. Division (AMRD) will construct an Operations at the new hatchery oyster hatchery at the Claude Peteet will entail collecting wild adult oysters Mariculture Center (CPMC) in Gulf from local waters and maintaining this Shores and expand their remote set “broodstock” in existing ponds. When facility on Dauphin Island. The oyster water temperatures rise to near optimum spawning temperatures in spring, spat produced at these new and broodstock oysters will be gathered from expanded facilities will be used to the ponds and placed in tanks systems supplement and encourage oyster where temperatures are maintained low Broodstock are adult oysters two to recruitment in portions of Mobile enough to prevent them from spawning. three years old, stimulated in the Bay with reduced oyster production As needed, small batches of oysters will laboratory by warmer temperatures compared to the early 20th century. be retrieved from the holding tanks to spawn, or release eggs and sperm, The CPMC provides an ideal and induced to spawn, or release their which after fertilization, develop into location for broodstock maintenance sperm and eggs, in smaller, warmer, tiny, free-swimming oyster larvae. Photo courtesy of Texas A&M AgriLife Research and spawning. The 45-acre facility has temperature-controlled systems. 42 AlabamaAlabama currentcurrent connection connection Spat are tiny oysters that have settled on cultch and begun to grow a shell.

Released eggs and sperm will be combined to produced fertilized, free- swimming larvae, which will be moved After setting, spat attached to AMRD oyster shell cultch are fed natural algae pumped through into culture systems and fed rations of from Bay waters. paste algae. After 14 to 20 days in the CPMC culture system, the larvae will grow and develop into “footed” larvae, Cultch is the hard material that approximately two weeks before ready to settle. At this point, the larvae provides an attractive settling placement on a reef. These “seed oysters” will be transported across the Bay to substrate for oyster larvae. will be placed on a contracted barge and setting tanks at the remote set facility on transported to suitable areas for placement Dauphin Island, where they will be given After the setting period, the tanks will in Mobile Bay and Mississippi Sound approximately three days to “set” on cultch be switched to “flow through,” and spat locations identified by AMRD staff. material while being fed live, concentrated will feed on natural algae pumped into This static water culture system is algae. Tiny, newly set oysters attached to the system from the waters of Dauphin anticipated to produce up to approximately cultch material are called “spat.” Island Bay, allowing them to grow for 65 million 10-day-old spat each year.

GulfCorps trail maintenance. Seed oysters are growing spat ready to be moved to restoration areas or growing cages. Photo courtesy of Auburn University Shellfish Lab.

The goal is to increase the productivity of Alabama’s public oyster reefs.

Alabama A currentlabama connection current connection 53 Oyster Cultch Relief and Reef Configuration – Mounds and Furrows

By Col. Scott Bannon, Director, and Jason Hermann, Biologist II, Alabama Marine Resources Division

The Alabama Marine Resources determine whether Division (AMRD) will investigate the vertical position on advantages of arranging different the mound influences types of cultch (materials to which settlement, growth, oyster larvae attach) in different and survival. Oyster success on mounds configurations to promote settlement will be monitored for and growth of oysters in selected three years and reef areas in Mobile Bay. The project compared to two has three primary goals: (1) Determine if adjacent “control” there are differences in oyster settlement, plots, each growth, and survival on reefs with different constructed with levels of vertical relief and/or orientation the same amount of to currents; (2) determine the best reef material broadcast material needed to restore oyster density over a 50-foot-by-50- in historical reef areas where oxygen foot square area with concentration, salinity, and oyster 100 percent coverage recruitment and survival are highly six inches deep. One variable; and (3) estimate the cost/benefits control plot will be of deploying cultch material in certain Schematic of oyster cultch relief experiments: Top: oyster mounds. constructed of cured configurations other than traditional cultch Bottom: Elongated mounds and furrows. shell and the other broadcast methods. The project will be of limestone. funded through the Natural Resource used to determine which type of reef At the second site, three elongated Damage Assessment Restoration configuration would be tested in each mounds, two feet wide, one foot high, Program. project site. For example, data indicate and 120 feet long, will each be constructed The initial design of the project conditions near the bottom at Denton using 30 cubic yards of material. The involved arranging three types of cultch Reef are consistently hypoxic (low three elongated mounds will be oriented – cured oyster shell, limestone rock, and oxygen) or anoxic (no oxygen) and not parallel to one another and separated by fossilized oyster shell – in two different favorable for oyster growth. Therefore, a maximum of four feet to create furrows experimental configurations: individual Denton Reef was picked to test elevated between them. Each elongated mound mounds and elongated mounds with mounds that might offer growing oysters will be built with 60 feet of cured shell furrows, with control plots built using settlement opportunities higher in the and 60 feet of limestone rock arranged typical cultch broadcasting methods. water column where more oxygen is in alternating orientation. As a control, However, fossilized oyster shell stocks available. At the other site, nearer to the forty-five cubic yards of cultch material were depleted and unavailable, so only mouth of Fowl River where currents and will be broadcast over a 120-foot-by-120- cured shell and limestone will be used sediments impact oysters, lower-relief, foot area to attain 100 percent coverage as experimental cultch treatments. elongated mounds will be used to test to one-inch depth. Like the experimental Two sites were selected based on the effects of relief, reef material, and plots, the control plots will be constructed pre-project surveys: (1) the 70-acre orientation relative to currents and wave with the first 60 feet of one type of cultch Denton Reef, an artificial fishing reef, energy on oyster survival and growth. material and the second 60 feet with the located on the northern portion of At Denton Reef, six cultch mound other. Controls will be oriented to alternate Whitehouse Oyster Reef, approximately pyramids with 15-foot-by-15-foot with experimental mounds and separated three miles southeast of the mouth of bases will each be built using 45 cubic from them by a minimum of twenty feet. East Fowl River and (2) a 36-acre reef yards of material. The mounds will rise Oyster settlement, growth, and survival where AMRD undertook a 2014 Reef approximately four feet off the bottom on the elongated mounds will be monitored Planting Project approximately one mile in 10 to 12 feet of water. Three mounds and compared to the control plot to measure north-northeast of the mouth of East will be constructed from cured oyster the effects of shifting sand and silt related Fowl River. Physical conditions were shell and three from limestone rock to to currents and weather events. 6 Alabama current connection Side-Scan Mapping of Mobile Bay Relic Oyster Reefs

By Col. Scott Bannon, Director, and Jason Hermann, Biologist II, Alabama Marine Resources Division

Recent larval flow modeling Historic Oyster Reef Locations and Areas Proposed for Mapping and recruitment studies have shown flow patterns and transport of oyster larvae from populations in northern Mobile Bay are carried southward down the Bay’s western shore to oyster reefs in the lower Bay and then west towards Mississippi Sound. They contribute a significant portion of larval recruitment on Alabama’s public reefs in the lower Bay and Mississippi Sound and help populate Cedar Point and Heron Bay reefs. Historically, Hollinger’s Island and White House reefs, located in middle Mobile Bay, were productive oyster reefs that bridged the large gap between oyster populations in upper Mobile Bay and the public reefs of the lower Bay. Currently, Hollinger’s Island Reef is moderately productive, but Whitehouse Reef is non-productive, due to persistent low dissolved oxygen near the water bottom. The purpose of side-scan mapping is to (1) identify water bottoms in areas of mid-to-lower Mobile Bay suitable to support cultch material so that oyster populations can be re-established through efforts to seed reef areas with hatchery- raised oyster spat, and (2) survey the current extent and conditions of the relic oyster reefs identified in 1968 reef surveys Figure 1. Historic oyster reefs and shell deposits based on contracted by the Alabama Marine 1968 survey and areas proposed for side-scan mapping in Resources Division (AMRD) along with upper, middle, and lower Mobile Bay. other bottoms not yet surveyed. Mapping these areas with side-scan increase the resilience of the spawning stock the location and extent of existing oyster sonar will enhance our knowledge of and larval production within Alabama resources, which contribute to larval natural larval production and better enable waters, should adverse environmental or production and recruitment to lower us to identify the most suitable locations man-made events occur. Approximately Mobile Bay oyster reefs. to establish a network of “patch reefs,” 8,847 acres of non-contiguous, State-owned By identifying and prioritizing enhancing current “islands of productivity.” water bottoms (Figure 1) have been locations in areas of low productivity for Establishment of significant quantities of targeted for side scan mapping in mid- enhancement, AMRD hopes to restore oysters on a network of patch reefs along to-lower Mobile Bay, based on a survey oyster abundance and spawning stock to a gradient of hydrological conditions in of living and relic oyster reefs conducted support a regional oyster larvae pool these areas could provide increased levels in 1968. An additional 5,153 acres of sufficient for healthy recruitment levels of natural larval recruitment to current oyster bottoms have been identified for to Alabama’s subtidal and nearshore commercial public reefs. It would also scanning in upper Mobile Bay to quantify oyster reefs. Alabama current connection 7 Guest Column Q & A with Gage Swann

Our guest columnist is Gage Swann, The most important obligation is a senior Management student at the making sure you have enough oysters University of South Alabama, who counted and ready for a harvest. Having pays bills by working at the Mobile these bags already made up a few days Oyster Company, an off-bottom oyster before hand helps harvest run smoothly aquaculture operation in the salty waters and in a quick time frame, which is really on the west end of Dauphin Island. important during the summer time. Another task we do on nice calm days : OK, senior at USA, former would be desiccating our oysters (by raising Q offensive lineman at and flipping our cages). During the Huntingdon College, and summer time it is recommended we do recently licensed charter boat this once a week or at least once every two weeks. This practice dries the outside of captain Gage Swann, how did you become involved in off-bottom oyster aquaculture? Desiccation involves lifting oyster grow cages above the water surface for : Before I got into all those other 24 hours, usually once per week, to A things you mentioned, I was just a control biofouling of oysters and baskets Theodore High School graduate looking and to rattle the oysters, chipping off for a summer job while waiting for my new growth, which, along with waves The rest of our time on these types of first semester at Huntingdon to begin. and boat wakes, produces a rounder, days involves us splitting bags of growing My dad was actually the person who deeper-cupped oyster more valuable seed oysters (to reduce bag density), recommended me looking into working on the half-shell market. for an oyster farm. Somewhere along the so that the oysters do not overburden equipment with their increasing size and search, I got in contact with a man who our equipment and the oysters to limit weight. We also spend time hand sorting managed an oyster farm out in the Bayou any sort of biofouling. Biofouling is and counting oysters for our harvest bags. (La Batre), back when there was a co-op basically growth of barnacles and algae, During the winter time, we get really of farmers out the mouth of West Fowl on our equipment and oysters. Flipping strong north winds which makes working River. He lined up a training day for the cages is the reason our oysters come the farm in our location too much of a me, and from that moment, I have been out so clean with so few barnacles or risk. We spend these days repairing any working in off-bottom oyster aquaculture. other growth on them. Since then I have joined the team and am broken equipment, like worn down oyster currently working for Cullan Duke at the grow cages for example, and also servicing Mobile Oyster Company. our work boat. : Describe a typical work day Q at the Mobile Oyster Company. : Our days at the Mobile Oyster A Company usually begin around 8:00, when my buddy Aaron, other team members, and I meet to finish our morning coffee and discuss the goals we want to have accomplished for the day. Sometimes we have a perfect day on Dauphin Island, and we use those days to maximize the work we do caring for the oysters on the farm itself. Every oyster farmer has a few basic obligations to the farm to grow and maintain beautiful oysters. 82 Alabama current connection • We are also able to avoid any issues with sediment covering oysters during big storms or from boat wakes, etc., again because we are at the top of the water : What is most rewarding column. Q about oyster farming? As to stressors for oyster farmers- I particularly like seeing our • Hurricanes and strong storms. These : A customers post pictures of our storms have the ability to take a toll on oysters on social media or hearing from oyster farms and the equipment itself. people who say it is the best oyster they Even when farmers don’t sink their gear, ever tasted. strong storm surge and currents can bury our bags on the bottom and also chafe our So, USA Management student, main lines. : should I invest in Alabama • Water quality. Things like red tides Q and shutdowns due to high counts of off-bottom oyster farming sewage-related bacteria in the water are operations? What’s tougher, a mid-July also hard to predict and leave us idle for Yes. This is a young industry in : many weeks. : Alabama compared to other Q work day or an early February A work day? Why? coastal areas in America, but in my opinion, the Gulf Coast and especially : In my opinion, I would rather the central Gulf Coast has some of the A have a mid-July work day every richest waters for growing oysters. From day of the year compared to the mid- the time I started five summers ago up February work days! This has almost until now, I have seen a lot of industry everything to do with the type of weather growth in Alabama and more people trend our location is subject to in the willing to give oyster aquaculture a try. winter time. During the winter time of They are all good people who, I think, year, it is almost guaranteed the water can really make a name for the Alabama will be in the upper 50s, and we usually oyster nationwide. And if this doesn’t sell have more strong north winds too. This you, just come on down to Mobile Oyster makes the tasks of getting in the water Company and try one yourself. to tend our oysters and driving the boat very difficult and uncomfortable. By the time summer comes around, we definitely become very thankful for the usual southerly flows of wind and the warm water. : With regard to environmental Q issues, what stressors to wild oysters are oyster : As a student in management, farmers able to avoid or control? Q what are the biggest What stressors present the major challenges to managing an threats to farm-cultivated oysters? oyster farm? : I’m no expert on what has : I think finding the right workers A happened to our natural oysters A who can handle the types of reefs over the years but I do believe conditions we have to work in is sometimes off-bottom oyster aquaculture helps our biggest problem. Currently we have avoid some of the obvious things that a really solid team, which I am thankful hurts the natural reefs. for, but in the past good, reliable help has • Oyster drills (the primary oyster been hard to find. predator) usually are not that big of a problem for us because of the fact our oysters stay in the top of the water column, rather than on the bottom. Alabama current connection 93 Off-Bottom Oyster Aquaculture – An Emerging Industry Along the Gulf Coast

By Dr. Bill Walton, Associate Professor and Extension Specialist, and Rusty Grice, Administrator II, Auburn University

Over the past 20 years, the areas where the substrate is too soft, or Through additional collaborative research, culture and harvest of oysters in areas affected by low dissolved oxygen/ training programs, efforts by regulatory hypoxia near the bottom). the has increased agencies, and investment of time and Traditionally, however, oyster energy by industrious individuals, this new steadily, proving its potential for production in the has industry established itself, first in Alabama continued growth as an agricultural been dominated by on-bottom production and Louisiana, then followed by Florida, sector. Cultured oysters accounted from private leases and public oyster beds. Mississippi and, most recently, Texas. for 61% of all cultured shellfish in While the Gulf of Mexico accounted for In 2019, Alabama’s shellfish aquaculture over 89% of the national 2008 harvest of 2008, and the industry was valued industry produced oysters through both the eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) by wild harvest and through off-bottom at $136 million annually, surpassing volume, the region only obtained 73% of farming. Based on current (2019) estimates, clams and salmon aquaculture. the total dollar value of the U.S. harvest. the industry now has a farmgate of at least Coinciding with this increase in farmed Additionally, production from the natural $1 million with 22 commercial farms in oyster production are off-bottom culture fishery and on-bottom leases is highly operation, and permits pending for two methods, where oysters are maintained in cyclical and dependent on a number of to three more. These farms had over 37 floating cages or suspended baskets. environmental factors (e.g., freshwater acres in production, with at least 27 more Off-bottom oyster farming is the input, predator regimes, natural set of acres permitted for off-bottom farming. In culture of oysters, usually held in some larvae, etc.), thereby making it difficult addition to the farms, several nurseries and type of mesh container (basket, bag, cage, to build a sustainable business using these one hatchery have also been established etc.) kept above the seafloor (suspended methods. in Alabama with successful production. or floating) in food-rich coastal waters. In 2009, Mississippi-Alabama Sea Oysters produced using off-bottom culture The final destination of these oysters is Grant Consortium, Alabama Cooperative techniques are typically sold to the premium to be commercially sold as a food product Extension, and the Auburn University half-shell market by count. for human consumption. Oysters grown Shellfish Lab partnered with Steve and Importantly, in addition to the economic this way are typically hatchery-reared, Dema Crockett (with a parallel program impacts of the industry, off-bottom oyster single-set oysters instead of clumps of in Louisiana led by Louisiana Sea Grant) farming has allowed individuals to continue oysters normally found in the wild. When to test different methods of off-bottom cultural traditions of working on the water, properly operated, the containers provide oyster farming to see which techniques especially in communities like Bayou La protection from predators and eliminate might be most appropriate for the region. Batre. Furthermore, oyster farming has burial in the sediment, allowing oysters Based on this work, off-bottom farming been documented as providing valuable to be cultured in areas where they would of oysters using some type of routine ecosystem services, including provision not survive on the bottom (e.g. high desiccation technique showed promise. of habitat for fish and other invertebrates. salinity areas with high predation rates, 102 Alabama current connection Recycled oyster shells curing before placement. Alabama’s Oyster Shell Recycling Program

By Mark Berte, Executive Director, Alabama Coastal Foundation

In December 2015, the idea of This volume of shell (weighing roughly • Limiting erosion: Oyster reefs an Alabama Oyster Shell Recycling the same as 210 elephants) would require are natural breakwaters that Program (AOSRP) became a reality about 158 dump trucks to transport. protect shorelines. during one of the Alabama Coastal While the grant was completed by In addition, the ACF is proud of the Foundation’s (ACF’s) Connect To Your the end of September 2017, the Program AOSRP Advisory Committee, continues to thrive today for comprising restaurant Coast outreach events at the Flora- two reasons. First, representatives, non- Bama Yacht Club. The Yacht Club chef participating profits, State agencies suggested the ACF start a recycling restaurants pay (including the program so he did not have to the ACF to Alabama Marine discard oyster shells into the waste recycle their Resources Division), stream. Two weeks later, a National shells (rather and government Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) than paying leaders who help grant opportunity from their Gulf Coast someone to make decisions about Conservation Grants Program was made haul them to a the Program, including available, ACF secured funding, and later landfill), covering about where to place the shells. that year the Program was initiated. 60% of Program costs. Second, the The ACF calls that approach The NFWF grant was for two years, balance of costs is secured through the “inclusive environmental stewardship.” and ACF’s goals were not only to establish ACF #ShuckABuck donation platform Names of and contact information for a sustainable program, but also to collect through the secure online donation page Committee members can be found on 380 cubic yards of shell (enough to cover at https://www.joinACF.org. its web site. five acres of bottom to a depth of one Oyster shells collected through the What is next for the Program? The half inch depth) annually from a total AOSRP are replaced into Alabama ACF is seeking grant opportunities to of 30 participating restaurants. With waters to provide substrate for wild oysters expand the Program to restaurants upstream good relationships with local restaurants to grow. In addition to food value, oysters in Birmingham, Montgomery, Auburn, already established, ACF was able to provide many other important ecosystem and Tuscaloosa in the future. They are bring 30 restaurants onboard and collect services, including: also exploring possibilities of allowing 760 cubic yards (or 10 acres) of shell in • Improving water quality: Each individuals to recycle their shells. The the AOSRP’s first 11 months. adult oyster can filter 15 gallons ACF solicits lower Alabamians interested As of December 2019, the Program of water per day. in helping to bring either of those concepts had collected over 10 million shells, or • Providing habitat: Oyster reefs into fruition to contact them or Advisory approximately 1,900 cubic yards, enough provide habitat for fish, , Committee members and let them know. to cover over 25 acres of Bay bottom. crabs, birds and other animals. Alabama current connection 113 The Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium’s Support of the Oyster Industry: Past, Present and Future

Dr. LaDon Swann, Director, Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium

Sea Grant is a science-based MASGC’s funding portfolio is The progress made in sustainable service organization that works at the balanced across these four focus areas. oyster reefs and oyster farming has relied boundary between science and policy. Within sustainable fisheries and on strong partnerships between the The Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant aquaculture, MASGC invests in sound private sector, state agencies, university Consortium (MASGC, http://masgc. science to inform policy and economic partners, environmental non-profits, org) was created in 1972 as a federal decisions for marine species, including and funding agencies, such as MASGC. and state partnership supported by the oysters. Over the past 48 years Sea Not every Sea Grant-supported project National Oceanic and Atmospheric Grant has supported 61 research has been a “home run,” but sustained Administration (NOAA) and nine projects involving oysters, with funding investments in needs-based, hypothesis- university partners in Alabama and totaling around $14 million, which driven research supported by robust Mississippi. Its mission is to provide does not include funding for education, education, outreach, and extension integrated research, communication, outreach, or extension. MASGC’s oyster programs has led to some important education, extension and legal programs investments can be grouped into four outcomes. to coastal communities that lead major categories: seafood safety, farming, Seafood safety has been a major area to the responsible use of and restoration, and ecosystem services of of investment. Early investments in the coastal resources. Additional support oyster reefs and farms, represented in 1970s through 1990s led to the application is provided through education funds Figure 1. of research commonly used now. Before through Alabama and Mississippi state governments. Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Supported Oyster Research Projects and Funding MASGC’s stakeholder-driven 80 strategic plan is organized around four focus areas and include: 70

➊ Healthy Coastal Ecosystems 60

➋ Sustainable Fisheries and 50 Aquaculture ➌ Resilient Communities and 40 Economies 30 ➍ Environmental Literacy and Workforce Development 20

10

0 Seafood Safety Farming Restoration Ecosystem Services

Figure 1. Number of Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant supported oyster research projects and funding (2020 adjusted) between 1972 and 2020 grouped into seafood safety, farming, restoration and ecosystem services valuation.

12 Alabama current connection Alabama current connection 13 there was a Mussel Watch Program our region could be grown to market size (http://aquaticcommons. org/ 2232/1/ in as little as eight months. The suite of oysters (2000s). In addition to applied MWTwoDecades.pdf) to assess research and extension projects supported research, Sea Grant helped establish the contaminant monitoring along the by MASGC and others has led to the Mobile Bay Oyster Gardening Program. nation’s coasts, MASGC was supporting creation of more than a dozen oyster Led by Sea Grant-supported extension the science to determine levels of chemical farms in Alabama and a growing number professionals, this Program directly contaminates found in oysters. An early in Mississippi since 2010. Sustained connects with citizens living along MASGC research research and extension Mobile Bay. The success of the Oyster project, funded in funding, increased Gardening Program in Mobile Bay led 1972, determined the demand for alternative to its expansion into Little Lagoon and distribution and jobs, necessary Mississippi. significance of copper infrastructure Oysters are a foundational species and lead in Mississippi (e.g. hatcheries in our estuaries and provide numerous Sound oysters. Sea and production ecosystem services, which can be defined Grant-funded research equipment), and as direct or indirect contributions to led to identifying supportive marine human well-being. From a practical most of the oyster resource management standpoint, wild or farmed oysters: genome, important in agencies were all key • Provide jobs for commercial understanding oyster to the success of this fishermen, processors, retailers, growth and survival, new sector for the and for-hire and recreational Perfectly shaped farm-raised oyster. and refined the use of commercial oyster fishing interests. DNA polymerase chain industry. The outlook reaction (PCR) methodologies, now used for oyster farming is favorable, and Sea • Provide critical habitat for many routinely to rapidly identify pathogenic Grant will continue to support the needs species of marine animals. bacteria like Vibrio vulnificus in oysters. of this sector as it faces the challenges of a • Mitigate against storm surge Sea Grant Extension work in the maturing industry. and shoreline erosion. 1990s led to the development of Seafood Methods to optimize oyster reef • Remove excess nutrients from Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point restoration continue to improve. the water. (HACCP), a systemic and broadly used MASGC has supported work to identify approach to ensure the safety of the compounds in oysters that cause larvae • Provide cultural and spiritual seafood we consume. to set (1970s), determine the seasonal experiences for coastal residents The development of a sustainable distribution and location of oyster spat and tourists. oyster farming industry in Alabama and in Mobile Bay and Mississippi Sound Translating the services provided Mississippi required strong partnerships (1970s), understand the optimal size of by oysters into economic values is and applied research. Sea Grant-supported spat for planting (1990s), and develop challenging, and Sea Grant has funded research in 1972 revealed oysters raised in breeding programs for hypoxia-resistant a great deal of research to determine the values of services provided by oyster reefs. Determined values vary widely, depending on the location and focus of the those making the calculations. MASGC has partnered with other funding programs to support regional research to calculate ecosystem service values for oyster reefs with valuation data available on the Gulf of Mexico Ecosystem Services Valuation Database (http:// gecoserve.org). MASGC is one of many organizations which supports the sustainability of oysters. Considering the needs of our coastal communities and the MASGC’s available resources and sustained investments in oysters have resulted in multiple positive impacts on the environment and the economy.

12 Alabama current connection Alabama current connection 13 Applying Research to Increase Oyster Restoration Success – Using Predator Scent to Encourage Development of More Robust Shells By Dr. Lee Smee, Senior Marine Scientist and University Programs Chair, Dauphin Island Sea Lab

Oysters begin life as plankton, Numerous restoration efforts have swimming in the ocean as they been implemented with varying degrees select a place to settle and begin to of success. In the northern Gulf of grow. Once an oyster chooses where Mexico, restoration is often performed by cultching areas with hard substrate to settle, the choice is permanent. (crushed concrete, oyster shells) in hopes That makes an oyster’s ability to that oysters will settle and grow. Despite react to changing conditions significant investment in cultching, surveys paramount to its survival. Dr. Lee and harvest data suggest that natural Smee, Senior Marine Scientist and oyster recruitment may be insufficient University Programs Chair at the Dauphin to rebuild the fishery. Recently, both Oyster spat attached to an oyster shell. Island Sea Lab, and his research team Mississippi and Alabama have invested found this past summer that oysters could in oyster hatcheries for remote setting to urine by growing stronger shells. When alter their shell growth patterns to make enhance reef restoration. This technique placed in the field, oysters exposed to themselves less vulnerable to predators. involves setting hatchery reared oyster predators had stronger shells and were Specifically, oysters make their shells larvae onto oyster shells or other hard three times more likely to survive than heavier and stronger when exposed to the substrates and then deploying these oysters without prior exposure to predators. scent of predators, reducing the likelihood oysters into estuaries. This practice is Ongoing research is investigating the that an oyster will be eaten. The next step potential to expose will be to use these findings to enhance remotely set oysters oyster reef restoration. to predator cues For over a century, commercial oyster in the hatchery to harvesting has been a fundamental “toughen them up” component of the economy and culture prior to placement in of Gulf Coast states. In addition to their the field. If survival value as a fishery, oysters provide numerous can be increased, this other benefits, including water filtration will yield significant and shoreline protection. Oysters provide return on investment Oysters grown in a nursery A) with and B) without blue crab scent. and facilitate oyster critical habitat for many other species The oysters grown with crabs are rounder, harder, and more resistant of fish and invertebrates, including red to being eaten by predators. reef recovery. The next drum and blue crabs, which are both research step will be commercially important. relatively new in the Gulf of Mexico but identifying the chemicals in crab urine Unfortunately, over 85% of global is well established in both the Chesapeake that trigger oyster shell thickening. Once oyster reef habitat has been lost, and Bay and the Pacific Northwest coast. the chemicals that oyster respond to are both Mississippi and Alabama have One concern regarding the remote characterized, then oyster hatcheries will experienced astonishing deteriorations setting of oysters is that newly settled be able to add these substances to the in the fishery. While off-bottom oyster oysters (termed “spat”) are especially water in the setting tanks to enhance farming, fueled by hatchery seed, has vulnerable to predation, particularly by oyster shell growth and increase oyster become established along the Gulf coast, oyster drills. Oysters, however, may adjust survival, thereby increasing return this form of production produces only a the thickness, weight, shape, and strength on investment of remote setting and fraction of traditional production levels, of their shells to deter predators. In facilitating oyster reef restoration and and yields a product best suited to the summer 2019, Dr. Smee and his research recovery. premium half-shell market. lab found that oysters reacted to blue crab 142 Alabama current connection Alabama current connection

About the Mobile Bay National Estuary Program: The Mobile Bay National Estuary Program’s mission is to lead the wise stewardship of water quality and living resources of the Mobile Bay and Tensaw Delta. The MBNEP serves as a catalyst for activities of estuary stakeholders, helping to build community-based organizational capacity for sound resource management and leveraging commitment and investment to ensure the estuary’s sustainability. For more information, please contact the MBNEP office at 251-431-6409.

Oyster Gardening About ADCNR, State Lands Division, Coastal Section: In an effort to protect and enhance coastal resources and reduce potential conflicts between environmental and economic interests, in Alabama the Alabama Coastal Area Management Program (ACAMP) was approved by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in 1979. The ACAMP is administered through By P.J. Waters, Extension Specialist and Interim Director, the Alabama Department of Conservation and Auburn University Marine Extension and Research Center Natural Resources, State Lands Division, Coastal Section. For more information, please contact the Coastal Section office at 251-621-1216. Oyster gardening in Alabama Gardening oysters are not for began in 2001 as a masters student’s consumption, though some of the Alabama Current Connection is produced gardeners now count themselves among biannually by the Mobile Bay National Estuary thesis project sponsored by the Alabama’s premium oyster farmers. Program. Support is provided in part by the Mobile Bay National Estuary Alabama Department of Conservation and Rather, these oysters serve a higher Natural Resources (ADCNR), State Lands Program in partnership with Auburn purpose, being destined to be returned to Division, Coastal Section; the U.S. EPA; NOAA; University and the Mississippi- restoration reefs in Mobile Bay. The next and the Dauphin Island Sea Lab/Marine phase of oyster gardening will start in Environmental Science Consortium. Alabama Sea Grant Consortium. Volunteers were introduced to 2020. While each of the three programs Alabama Current Connection encourages continue to expand with additional the idea they could grow juvenile reprinting of its articles in other publications. sites and volunteers, attention is being If you have recommendations for future articles or oysters (spat) as a community wide turned to evaluate stocking strategies and would like to subscribe, please contact the editor: restoration effort. Nearly 20 years protection measures against a voracious Tom Herder later, under leadership of AU and the oyster predator generally referred to as a Mobile Bay National Estuary Program MASGC, oyster gardening in Alabama 118 North Royal Street, Suite 601 “drill.” As these projects play out, oyster Mobile, AL 36602 has grown to two distinct program gardening will look to increase in both Office: 251-431-6409 regions and spawned a sister program in oyster production and the efficiency of Fax: 251-431-6450 Mississippi. Gardening oysters are set on its restoration efforts. It is anticipated E-mail: [email protected] parent shells at the AU Shellfish Lab. that with the new information, a new era www.mobilebaynep.com The parent shells come from the Alabama of volunteer gardening will be possible, We reserve the right to edit submissions.

Oyster Shell Recycling Program, making resulting in more oysters with less labor Funding for this newsletter is provided by Mobile it possible that the shells of oysters you over a longer period of time at each site. Bay National Estuary Program and the Alabama enjoy this weekend at a local restaurant, If you are interested in oyster Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, will find their way into an oyster garden gardening, get in touch with us to learn State Lands Division, Coastal Section, in part, from and back on a reef supporting a new more about your site’s eligibility. In a grant by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Office of Coastal Management generation of oysters. The 2019 season Mobile Bay or Mississippi, contact us Award #NA19NOS419037. saw oyster gardening in Alabama exceed at 251.438.5690 or oystergardening@ the 1,000,000-oysters-planted mark with auburn.edu. In Little Lagoon contact the no signs of slowing. Little Lagoon Preservation Society. Alabama current connection 153 Alabama current connection Non-Profit Org. Dauphin Island Sea Lab U.S. Postage Marine Environmental Science Consortium 101 Bienville Boulevard PAID Dauphin Island, Alabama 36528 Permit No. 435 Mobile, AL 36601

Oyster South: Successful Farms and Healthy Waters By Beth Walton, Executive Director, Oyster South

Oyster farming and the culture impacts. We also assist our farmer members We celebrate, elevate, and cultivate the that accompanies it are the heartbeat by fundraising and helping them improve southern sustainable farm-raised oyster of Oyster South. Founded in 2016, their farming and marketing efforts through two of our signature events. The through first-hand information exchange. first is our fundraiser LANDLOCKED, Oyster South is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit The use of modern equipment, techniques, which is held each October in Decatur, organization whose mission is to and ideas is reinventing the tradition of GA and is open to the general public. cultivate a south that encourages southern oysters. We also hold our annual Industry and includes successful oyster farms, In addition to over 50 oyster farmers, Symposium each February, alternating the Oyster South community consists of between Atlantic and Gulf coast sites. For healthy waters, and the birth of new retailers, wholesalers, shuckers, hatcheries, more information, go to oystersouth.com. traditions. We help spread the message chefs, restaurants, marine extension agents, of sustainable aquaculture and its positive students, writers, media, cookware makers, economic, environmental, and cultural photographers, and the general public.