1. Molluscan Shellfish Culture in the US: Innovation, Economy, and Environment Feeding the Nation: the Aquaculture Alternative- CHOW 05 Richard Langan, Ph.D. University of New Hampshire

2. Presentation Outline What is shellfish aquaculture? Where is it taking place? Shellfish culture and the environment U.S. Industry Characteristics Species and methods Economic Impact and trends Factors limiting industry growth Prospects for the future

5. Shellfish Culture…… Controlled production of bivalve molluscs Clams, oysters, mussels, scallops Wide variety of species and culture methods Filter feeders… feed on naturally occurring microscopic plant cells Production requires no fertilizers, feeds, drugs, chemicals or antibiotics More than 100 years of history in the U.S. Land based hatchery and nursery Growout in estuarine and protected and exposed* marine environments Applied science and innovation

6. Production takes place in all coastal states

7. Shellfish Culture and the Environment Documented Environmental Benefits No external Feed Source Improves Water Clarity Provides Valuable Habitat Removes Nitrogen Improves Oxygen Conditions Ecosystem Management Tool Improves restoration success Mitigate the Impacts of eutrophication Pollution credit trading Integrated Aquaculture

8. Finfish + Bivalves = Integrated Aquaculture Uneaten food 3-10% Fish feces 10-25% Feed Addition Dissolved Nitrogen (NH4) Metabolism 65-87% Decomposition and Remineralization Increased Primary Production Bivalve Culture and Removal via Harvest Denitrification

9. U.S. Industry Characteristics Highly Diverse Individuals to larger companies Several acres to hundreds of acres Discrete Sector to Vertically Integrated Low Tech to High Tech Niche products to commodity Innovation in production methods Alternative for commercial fishermen Applied science in action

10. Shellfish Species and Culture Methods Oysters Eastern, Olympia, Belon, Pacific, Kumomoto, Asian Clams Quahog, Manilla, Goeduck, Softshell Mussels Blue and Mediterranean Scallops Bay, pink and sea

11. Culture Stages Larval stage production Natural production Hatchery maintained broodstock Nursery culture Land based, in- water, upwellers Seed production Natural settlement, hatchery production, remote setting Growout Extensive, intensive

12. Oyster Culture- East, West and Gulf Coasts Larval Supply Natural- NJ, CT, LA Hatchery- E &W coasts Seed Production Natural Settlement Hatchery Production Single seed, clusters

13. Oyster Culture (cont’d) Nursery Upwellers, Bagged shell with attached seed Growout On Bottom Containment and suspension

14. Clam Culture- East and West Coasts Hatchery production of larvae and seed Upwellers for nursery culture Growout on bottom with predator netting

15. Mussel Culture - Northeast and Northwest Larval and Seed Supply West- Hatchery East- natural production Growout Bottom culture Ropes or sleves suspended from rafts, surface longlines, and submerged longlines

16. Submerged Longlines - open ocean opportunities http:// ooa.unh.edu

17. Scallop Culture Larval and seed production Hatchery techniques well developed for bay scallop Growout- Experimental Containment in cages and nets Bottom Culture Restoration and enhancement (bay scallops) Sea scallop culture relies on wild caught seed

18. Economic Impacts and Trends Farm Gate Value (2003) TrendImports All species $160 M $130 M Oysters$100 M$14 M Clams$ 56 M$38 M Mussels$ 4 M$45 M Scallops$ N/A$33 M* Employment > 10,000

19. Limiting Factors to Industry Growth Coastal Pollution Competing Uses (incl. viewscapes) Disease Harmful Algal Blooms Biofouling (incl invasives) Predation

20. Prospects for the Future Opportunity Demand is high and continues to rise Inshore and offshore site availability Component of Integrated Coastal Management Motivation Economy Environment Food security Needs Social Acceptance Investment $$ Gov’t supported R&D

21. Thank You!