Alternative Oyster Culture Site and Gear Selection John Supan, Ph.D. La. Sea Grant College Program LSU Agricultural Center Governor’s Oyster Advisory Committee Meeting June 27, 2013 New Orleans, Louisiana

LSU Oyster Research & Demonstration Farm

Benefits of advanced culture technology As with all business, site selection is the first and most important decision to be made when selecting locations for alternative oyster culture. The site and its characteristics (e.g., bottom type, water depth, salinity regime, etc.) should dictate which culture system is used (e.g., raft, rack, cage or longline). As off-bottom oyster culture is developed in Louisiana and other gulf states, it is very important to foster not only entrepreneurial spirit and creative design, but also the use or development of culture systems that allow aerial drying of oysters and their culture containers to help deter biofouling (e.g., barnacles, algae and wild oyster overset), to reduce labor costs associated with cleaning to improve economic feasibility.

AOC Site Selection Suitable oyster lease (per map) Approved Shellfish Growing Waters management options open for harvest Salinity regime faster growth flavor Bottom type gear type & methods Water depth winter tides Fetch exposure

Benefits of advanced culture technology As with all business, site selection is the first and most important decision to be made when selecting locations for alternative oyster culture. The site and its characteristics (e.g., bottom type, water depth, salinity regime, etc.) should dictate which culture system is used (e.g., raft, rack, cage or longline). As off-bottom oyster culture is developed in Louisiana and other gulf states, it is very important to foster not only entrepreneurial spirit and creative design, but also the use or development of culture systems that allow aerial drying of oysters and their culture containers to help deter biofouling (e.g., barnacles, algae and wild oyster overset), to reduce labor costs associated with cleaning to improve economic feasibility.

Australian Adjustable Longline System The ALS is a series of cylindrical mesh bags suspended horizontally on a longline Riser posts with clips allow suspension of longline at various heights The longline is anchored by pilings and can follow shoreline contour

The OysterGroTM floating oyster culture cages from Bouctouche Bay Industries Ltd., New Brunswick,Canada. Photograph is from the Chesapeake Oyster Company web site: http://www.bayoyster.com/equipgo.html

LoPro oyster cages from used commercially in Chesapeake Bay LoPro oyster cages from used commercially in Chesapeake Bay. Photograph is from the Chesapeake Oyster Company web site: http://www.bayoyster.com/equip_go.html

Greatest Concerns Theft Damage/Loss Liability

Marine Enterprise Zones Sited for Optimum Performance Environmental Water quality Biological Culture species Engineering Hydrodynamics Economics Logistics Reduces User Conflict in Coastal Zone Reduces Exposure to Liability

Park Administrator Obtains Coastal Use Permits Coast Guard Approval Manages Park Users Provides security & support

Common Sights Along Coastal Louisiana Exclusive use of water column?

Along Coastal Louisiana? Common Future Sights Along Coastal Louisiana?

For more information, contact: John Supan, Ph.D. Louisiana Sea Grant College Program Louisiana State University Baton Rouge, LA 70803 jsupan@lsu.edu