1. 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

2. LSU Oyster Research & Demonstration Farm

3. 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.

4. 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

5. 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.

7. 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

9. The OysterGroTM floating oyster culture cages from Bouctouche Bay
Industries Ltd., New
Brunswick,Canada.
Photograph is from the Chesapeake
Oyster Company web site:

11. 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:

16. Greatest Concerns
Theft
Damage/Loss
Liability

18. 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

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

21. Common Sights Along Coastal Louisiana
Exclusive use of water column?

22. Along Coastal Louisiana?
Common Future Sights
Along Coastal Louisiana?

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