Aquaculture

Alabama Shellfish Aquaculture Situation & Outlook Report: Production Year 2022

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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 Farmed Oysters By Year GraphHighlights for 2022

  •  Ten commercial oyster aquaculture operations in 2022 reported harvests in the state, per the Alabama Department of Public Health.
  • The farm gate value for Alabama commercial oyster farms is estimated to be at least $3,200,000 based on personal conversations with farmers regarding wholesale prices.
  • The number of farmed single-market oysters sold was similar to 2021, with a total of 4,451,015 harvested.
  • In 2022, Alabama had at least one commercial hatchery and two commercial nurseries.
  • At least 61 acres were permitted for commercial oyster aquaculture with at least 45 acres used in production.

 

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 August 2023, Alabama Shellfish Aquaculture Situation & Outlook Report: Production Year 2022, 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

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