Mississippi Oyster Status/Management

Mississippi Oyster Status/Management

293 Stations 75 One Minute Dredge 586 m² Dive Samples 661 Total Samples Collected

2016 Oyster Mortalities Sequence of Events High levels of Dermo (Perkinsus marinus ) (energy removal) High water temperature (increased metabolism energy usage) High salinity (energy usage to osmo-regulate maintaining fluids) Oysters preparing to spawn (energy usage producing gametes) Extreme rain (flooding) event (triggers mass spawn event) Salinities dropped rapidly Temperature dropped rapidly Oyster spawn (Further weakening the adult oysters) Organic matter from the flooding increased the Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) as organic matter decayed, resulting in Dissolved Oxygen (DO) over reefs to fall to lethal levels Dead oysters

Dead Oyster Spat Dead Market Oysters

Dead Market Oyster INSERT Dead Oysters Pictures HERE

Season Update Season opened October 3, 2016 Dredging Sack Limit Per Day 25 Sacks Tonging Sack Limit Per Day 15 Sacks Check Stations open from Monday-Saturday To date 11,000 Sacks harvested

2016 Adjusted Mississippi Oyster Sack Estimates Reef Est. Sacks Total 3" % Sack Mortality 3" Adjusted Sack Estimates 3" Sacks @30% Harvest 3" Area II "D" Between the Bridges* 412 N/A* 412 124 Biloxi Bay* 6,177 N/A* 6,177 1,853 Henderson Point Reef 36,984 90.57% 3,487 1,046 Pass Dredging Reef** 3,915 100.00% 0 0 Pass Marianne Reef 92,121 51.52% 44,663 13,399 Pass Tonging Reef 4,676 21.27% 3,682 1,104 St. Joe Reef 20,336 0.22% 20,292 6,088 St. Stanislaus Tonging Reef* 7,305 N/A* 7,305 2,191 Telegraph Reef** 0 N/A** 0 0 TOTALS 171,926 49.97% 86,017 25,805 Note: For Market Oysters 3" W. Reefs 79,840 23,952 * m² Samples collected after mortality event Biloxi Bay 6,177 1,853 ** No sack oysters present in dredge samples

Questions?

Jason Rider Oyster Extension Agent

Port of Gulfport Gulfport, MS Test site will help to determine if a large-scale Remote Set operate can be located at the Port of Gulfport First test: Introduced 6.8 million eyed larvae in 2 tanks with a total of 68,000 shells Setting efficiency was 11.73%

Oyster Aquaculture USM Aqua Green Collaborative Research Collaborative pilot-scale research project between USM and Aqua Green Achieved proof-of-concept for large-scale oyster larvae production in artificial seawater, recirculating aquaculture system; groundbreaking research not accomplished anywhere else in the U.S. on this scale using this production strategy To date, R&D experimental runs have produced more than half a billion larvae Next steps include continued R&D to improve efficiencies for optimal larval and algal production methodologies to assist in State restoration efforts

Oyster Hatchery Pass Christian, MS The City of Pass Christian will build and operate an oyster hatchery to aid in the restoration and production of on-bottom and offbottom oyster aquaculture. Equipment has been ordered and site plans have been approved. This facility is expected to produce larvae to help seed natural and off-bottom oyster farms

Crystal Seas Pass Christian, MS Facility has been operational for 2 years 8 setting tanks 54,000 shells per tank Maximum run of 432,000 shells Typically average a Setting Efficiency between 14-19% Crystal Seas is deploying shells onto its private leases to promote growth

RESTORE Act Off-Bottom Oyster Aquaculture Program The Off-Bottom Oyster Aquaculture Program will provide participants with the training needed to start an off-bottom oyster aquaculture operation. The proposed project has two phases that will occur over a two-year period Phase 1 is a comprehensive training program that teaches all aspects of off-bottom oyster farming specific to the MS Gulf Coast with the capability of training and accrediting up to 20 participants per year for two years. Phase 2 will focus on the profitability and sustainability of new off-bottom oyster farmers in the state of Mississippi by providing technical guidance, improving business planning and assisting with distribution and marketing of cultured oysters.

RESTORE Act Continued Phase 1 Classroom and Field Education Formal classroom training Oyster Farming Fundamentals Oyster biology Hatchery techniques Nursery methods Grow-out options and techniques Predators Pests and diseases of oysters Basics of business planning (including development of individual business plans) Permitting and regulations

RESTORE Act Continued Phase 1 Classroom and Field Education Hands-on Training Gear Construction & Installation Bag Options & Stocking Densities How to Count Seed Routine Gear Handling, including Methods to Control Fouling Splitting and Grading Assessing Performance (Survival, Growth, Shape, Consistency) Storm Preparation

RESTORE Act Continued Phase 1 Classroom and Field Education Workshops and On-Site Training Industry experts Oyster farmers and resource managers from other regions will provide additional learning opportunities Visits to operating oyster farms Attend aquaculture conferences to learn about the latest developments and discoveries

RESTORE Act Continued Phase 2 Business Incubation The second phase will focus on the participants from Phase 1 that choose to begin oyster farming as they transition from the training program to a private business operation. Participants that complete Phase 1 will be eligible to sublease acreage to begin a private farm

RESTORE Act Continued Phase 2 Business Incubation Phase one graduates will receive help with individual needs, technical advice. Each farm will have its operations reviewed for optimal survival, growth and product quality. Examples of review criteria: Gear management (fouling and overset) Effects of gear and tumbling Options on installation of gear Questions about splitting and grading techniques Design business plan specific to each operation

Contact Information Jason Rider MS Department of Marine Resources 1141 Bayview Ave Biloxi, MS 39530 228.523.4037 jason.rider@dmr..ms.gov