8 minute read
Oyster Aquaculture Research
By Emily Woodward
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Ripples form on the surface of the water as UGA graduate student Shannon Kirk loads her research equipment onto the R/V Marie. Today she’s heading out to her research site in Wassaw Sound to measure the growth of more than 10,000 oysters.
“We’ll measure the length, width and height to determine the overall proportion of the oysters, which will help us understand how valuable they might be in the eyes of consumers,” says Kirk, who is studying aquaculture in the Master of Science program at the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources.
In partnership with UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant, Kirk is studying ways to reduce the buildup of barnacles, algae and other organisms, called biofouling, on fl oating cages used by shellfi sh growers.
“When biofouling gets really, really bad it can actually reduce water fl ow to the oysters,” Kirk said. “Oysters depend on that water fl ow to feed on phytoplankton and algae in the water. If other organisms are blocking it, [the oysters] start dying off or they don’t grow as fast.”
This is a problem for growers raising single oysters, a product that’s in demand by the restaurant industry. Biofouling can slow production and decrease the value of an oyster because it doesn’t look aesthetically pleasing.
“Fouling is hindering a lot of advancement in oyster aquaculture because of the amount of time you have to spend tending to the oysters in order to control it,” Kirk said.
She is testing ways to reduce biofouling by spraying fl oating cages with a coating designed to deter organisms. A second method involves fl ipping the cages upside down for 24-hours on a weekly, biweekly and three-week basis to interrupt the growth of newly settled organisms. Shellfi sh growers typically fl ip their cages once a week, which dries out the marine life growing on the cages.
“If we fi gure out that the aerial drying doesn’t need to occur quite as frequently, then those oysters are going to have more time to feed and the farmers won’t need to go out there to tend to them quite as often, which will save them money on gas and labor,” Kirk said.
Kirk’s research is part of a larger, multi-state collaborative project funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Southern Regional Aquaculture Center. The project team consists of university researchers, Sea Grant extension agents and industry partners representing seven states across the southern region, from North Carolina to Louisiana. Kirk and Louisiana State University graduate student Ellis Chapman are deploying the same research methods at sites in Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama.
With buy-in from universities and Sea Grant programs, collaborators can tackle the problem by using a two-pronged approach through research and extension.
“The regional team hopes to fi ne-tune growing techniques and further demonstrate the viability of the fl oating cage oyster production system that’s already in use by farmers throughout the region,” said Julie Davis, living marine resources extension specialist with the S.C. Sea Grant Consortium, and lead on this project.
“We have a fairly new industry in the South,” Davis said. “We want to share results of the project with people here who are interested in the business so they’re not just seeing content from other regions, like the West Coast or Northeast. As an extension agent, I can say to farmers, ‘We tried this method in this location and you’re only an hour up the road.’ The information is more relevant to the grower and it allows them to make their business decisions with more confi dence because the data has been generated locally.”
Top: Researcher measuring an oyster to determine if it's of sellable size. Middle: UGA graduate student Shannon Kirk fl ips a fl oating oyster cage. Bottom: Floating oyster aquaculture cases at a Georgia research site. Photos provided by UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant
The growing gear is deployed on oyster farms and the farmers are working with extension agents to handle routine fl ipping at the sites. At the conclusion of the study, the research team will share results at workshops designed for current growers, as well those who have an interest in getting into oyster aquaculture in each state.
In Georgia, Tom Bliss, director of Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant’s Shellfi sh Research Lab, hopes the project leads to new regulations and growth for the state’s oyster industry.
“This project allowed us to deploy fl oating cages for the fi rst time in Georgia,” Bliss said. “These are already allowed in South Carolina and North Carolina. If we can show that this method is successful in our state, hopefully it will pave the way for new permitting and regulations that make farming oysters easier and attract new farmers.”
March
13 Evening at Skidaway, Ocean Forces in the Graveyard of the Atlantic
UGA Skidaway Institute of Oceanography Tuesday 6:15 p.m. McGowan Library Auditorium, SkIO, 10 Ocean Science Circle, Savannah, GA Reception and talk. Dr. Dana Savidge describes her work exploring the dynamic and complex currents and forces near Cape Hatteras that give the area its ominous nickname. Michael Sullivan (912) 598-2325 mike.sullivan@skio.uga.edu
15-17 Art on the Sound - Gullah Art
Port Royal Sound Foundation Thursday & Friday 10 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. 310 Okatie Hwy, Okatie, SC Featuring 10 local Gullah artists. Pieces will include paintings, sculpture, handcrafted baskets, and more. Portion of proceeds will benefi t PRSF. www.portroyalsoundfoundation.org/programs
18 Savannah Riverkeeper Quarterly Paddle - Purrysburg
Savannah Riverkeeper Sunday 12:30 p.m. Beck's Ferry Landing, Beck's Ferry Road, Hardeeville, SC Paddling through a section of Savannah River, followed by delicious brews and discussion about work happening in the watershed. Jacob Oblander (912) 454-8048 jacob@savannahriverkeeper.org
24 Green Screen Environmental Film Festival
Green Scene of Coastal Georgia & Keep Golden Isles Beautiful Saturday 10:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. The Ritz Theatre, 1530 Newcastle Street, Brunswick, GA An education fair spotlighting local coastal and environmental groups, and three locally-connected fi lms including the feature documentary, Shifting Baselines. Please RSVP at www.greenscenega.org
24 Ribbon Cutting at Hale Marine
Hale Marine Services Saturday 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. 2604 Causton Bluff Road, Savannah, GA Showroom grand opening with local professionals on hand to answer questions about boat maintenance and repairs. Hot dog lunch provided. Robert Hale (912) 224-8313
24 Roast on the River
Savannah Riverkeeper Saturday 6 p.m. 328 Riverfront Drive, Augusta, GA A great night of oysters, lowcountry boil, local craft beer, an auction, and fantastic prizes, all in support of Savannah Riverkeeper Shawn Risher (706) 826-8991 shawn@savannahriverkeeper.org
30 Marine Careers Camp
UGA Marine Extension & Georgia Sea Grant Friday 1 - 4 p.m. Marine Education Center & Aquarium, 30 Ocean Science Circle, Savannah, GA Participants will learn how to identify saltwater fi sh and observe fi sh behavior before trying out a fun fi sh craft called Gyotaku, the Japanese art of fi sh printing. Registration required. Kayla Clark (912) 598-3345 kayla270@uga.edu
6-8 Port Royal Sound Foundation Boat Show
Port Royal Sound Foundation Friday - Sunday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. 310 Okatie Hwy, Okatie, SC For more information visit www.portroyalsoundfoundation.org/programs
7 Tybee Island Marine Science Center & Sea Turtle Project Benefi t
Coastal Empire Beer Company & Tybee Island Marine Science Center Saturday 2 - 5 p.m. 79 Ross Road, Savannah, GA Craft beer, turtle trivia (with prizes), The Big Cheese food truck, t-shirt contest voting, Turtle Trot 5K registration, and educators with baby diamondback terrapins! Brenda Marion (912) 786-5917 brenda@tybeemarinescience.org
13-14 Coastal Stewards Workshop: Barrier Island Ecology
UGA Marine Extension & Georgia Sea Grant Friday 5 - 8 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. 30 Ocean Science Circle, Savannah, GA Increase your knowledge of fl ora and fauna while exploring one of Georgia’s barrier islands. Learn about the management and protection of these coastal resources. Registration required. Kayla Clark (912) 598-3345 kayla270@uga.edu
21 Boater Safety Course
GADNR Resource Rangers and Chatham County Marine Patrol Saturday 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Savannah Mall Community Meeting Room, Savannah, GA Anyone born after 01-01-1998 must have a Boater Safety ID Card to operate a vessel of any kind in Georgia waters. Register at www.gooutdoorsgeorgia.com (912) 264-7237
21 Gray's Reef Southeast Regional MATE ROV Competition
Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary Saturday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Chatham County Aquatic Center, 7240 Sallie Mood Drive, Savannah, GA The competition challenges students to build and operate ROVs, applying physics, math, science and engineering skills to solve problems in the marine environment. Jody Patterson (912) 598-2431 jody.patterson@noaa.gov
28 14th Annual Tybee Turtle Trot 5K Beach Run
Tybee Island Marine Science Center Saturday 8 a.m. Tybee Pier and Pavilion, Tybee Island, GA Kick-off coastal Georgia’s sea turtle nesting season with a 5K fundraiser for Tybee’s Sea Turtle Project. Music, refreshments, and a post-race sea turtle release! Brenda Marion (912) 786-5917 brenda@tybeemarinescience.org
ONGOING Wilmington Island Farmer's Market
Every Saturday (except St. Pats) 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Islands High School, Wilmington Island, GA Shop fresh local produce, delicious food & handcrafted artisan creations while enjoying family-friendly activities, including animal encounters, and more! wifarmersmarket@aol.com or www.wifarmersmarket.org
SAVE THE DATE May 11 - 13 - Jekyll Island 5k and 10k Turtle Crawl June & July - Jekyll Island Summer Camps
Have an event you'd like to share? Email amy@southerntidesmagazine.com for information!
