Aquaculture

Alabama Shellfish Aquaculture Situation & Outlook Report: Production Year 2023

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Oysters

Alabama’s shellfish aquaculture industry produces oysters (Crassostrea virginica) through off-bottom farming using adjustable long-line and floating cage systems.

Alabama Off Bottom Farmers Oysters By YearHighlights for 2023

  • Ten commercial oyster aquaculture operations reported harvests Alabama.
  • The farm gate value for Alabama commercial oyster farms was estimated to be $3,200,000 based on personal conversations with farmers regarding wholesale prices.
  • The number of farmed single-market oysters harvested based on converting meat pounds was estimated at 5.2 million*.
  • One commercial hatchery and two commercial nurseries were operational in Alabama.
  • Sixty-one acres were permitted for commercial oyster aquaculture with 45 acres used in production.

*Estimate based on meat pounds reported from the Alabama Department of Marine Resources

 

Logos for the Auburn University School of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences, the AU Shellfish Lab, and the Sea Grant

Russell Grice, Extension Specialist, Aquaculture Business, Auburn University Shellfish Lab, Mississippi Alabama Sea Grant Consortium, and Andrea Tarnecki, Assistant Extension Professor, Auburn University Shellfish Lab, Senior Marine Scientist I, Dauphin Island Sea Lab, both with Auburn University.

Revised June 2024, Alabama Shellfish Aquaculture Situation & Outlook Report: Production Year 2023, ANR-2997

 

Acknowledgments: This publication was prepared by the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium using federal funds under award NA18OAR4170080 from the National Sea Grant Office, NOAA, US Department of Commerce. The statements, findings, conclusions and recommendations are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Sea Grant Office, NOAA, US Department of Commerce.

This update is based on data obtained from the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH), the Alabama Marine Resources Division, the Auburn University Shellfish Lab, and the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium.

Past Reports

The Alabama Cooperative Extension System (Alabama A&M University and Auburn University) is an equal opportunity educator, employer, and provider. If you need a reasonable accommodation or language access services, contact Russell Grice at rtg0010@aces.edu.

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