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Abstracts
Session: Regional Updates
The Pacific Northwest - Oyster Aquaculture
Presented By:
The West Coast shellfish industry, tribal entities and fisheries agencies are faced with numerous opportunities and challenges with the start of the new millennium. Recent advances in shellfish genetics, hatchery, nursery and growout technology provide for the enhanced production of currently cultured species, the culture of new species and restoration of wild shellfish stocks. Coupled with these technological advancements are new international and domestic policies and programs calling for the support and development of robust, sustainable and environmentally sound aquaculture.
In light of these opportunities and challenges, the Pacific Shellfish Institute (PSI) encouraged shellfish growers, tribes, agencies, and the shellfish research community to establish goals for the year 2010 and the initiatives and research priorities necessary to achieve them. Prior to this effort, there were limited attempts to identify and prioritize shellfish research needs. Research institutions were criticized for not responding to public and private sector needs. Yet, with the limited input from industry, tribes and agencies that these institutions received, this criticism was probably not well deserved. Goals and priorities were first developed during a series of round-table discussions held in 1998-99. Drafts of these goals and priorities were also circulated to shellfish industry and tribal representatives, research institutions, granting entities and resource management agencies with a request for their assistance in completing the initiatives and research priorities. Input obtained from over 100 stakeholders was assembled and published in late 1999 in a report entitled "North American West Coast Shellfish Industry 2010 Goals: Research & Initiative Priorities." Beginning in early 2003, a PSI committee revisited key areas of Goals 2010 to update and reprioritize research initiatives. Based on the existing 2010 document and committee input, the following general research needs, with oyster-specific examples, were identified:
- Genetics, genomics and improving domestication in oyster aquaculture - expand and continue genomic research, marker assisted selection, heterozygosity/homozygosity etc., facilitate transition of breeding programs to the industry
- Culture of New Species - improvements in Kumamoto oyster, Crassostrea sikamea, broodstock and triploid production, breeding studies of the Suminoe Oyster, Crassostrea ariakensis.
- Ecology of oysters in estuarine systems - increase understanding of the ecological impacts associated with oyster culture and farming practices (eelgrass and shorebird mitigation, ESA listed salmonids), continue integrated approaches to nutrient/primary production/shellfish interactions
- Oyster pest/predator/prey control, monitoring and interactions - alternative and biological control of burrowing shrimp; identify, predict, and prioritize impacts of exotic pests, predators, macroalgae and seagrasses.
- Shellfish health management and disease/mortality prevention - increase emphasis on genetic approaches to disease management; risk evaluation and management methods for oyster diseases
- Processing: new methods and new products, and marketing of oyster products -- investigate the effects that HHP processing has on product shelf life, Vibrio bacteria, various toxic phytoplankton (PSP, domoic acid, DSP), viral pathogens (human) and spoilage microbes.
- Human health and oyster production - health issues associated with cadmium, dioxins, and Norwalk virus, plus on-going HAB concerns; changes in PSP and domoic acid in west coast estuaries.
- Oyster aquaculture education and promotion -- short-term training program including on-the-job training (i.e. algae culture methods, BMP outreach) with links to annual grower meetings or workshops (i.e. for regulatory training).
Today's presentation will briefly focus on these topics and other priority west coast oyster research areas. Researchers interested developing projects addressing these priority areas are encouraged to contact PSI, their state Sea Grant or aquaculture extension representative, local shellfish grower/harvester, tribal organization, and other appropriate parties.
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