Summary Report
Edited by

Merrill Leffler
Maryland Sea Grant

Pauli Hayes
Virginia Sea Grant

Research Priorities and Strategies

Regional Impacts From Targeted Applied Research

Research over this past decade - particularly research from ODRP and GOIP - has considerably advanced our scientific understanding of oyster disease and helped chart techniques that commercial growers, resource managers and citizens groups have applied in the field. Examples include:

• Mid-Atlantic: Researchers have made measurable progress in breeding oysters that to some extent can tolerate the pressures of Dermo and MSX diseases.
• Northeast: Scientists and resource managers working with growers have developed techniques to manage around Juvenile Oyster Disease, a disease claiming many young hatchery-bred oysters.
• Gulf: Partnerships among scientists, food technologists and industry operators have been developing a suite of new techniques to ensure healthy oyster products.
• West coast: Collaborative projects are assessing the impacts of multiple stressors, including as-yet-unidentified pathogens, in the areaís large and unpredictable summer oyster mortalities.
• Chesapeake Bay and other coastal areas: Several federal and state agencies, private foundations, and citizens groups have invested significantly in programs to rebuild oyster reefs, monitor oyster recruitment and survival on restored reefs, promote oyster gardening by waterfront owners, and create management programs for increasing oyster populations.

For More Information

• Restoring Oysters To U.S. Coastal Waters: A National Commitment
• National Sea Grant Oyster Disease Research Program

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