alabama marine resources division recent oyster ... · recent oyster restoration projects. ......

Alabama Marine Resources Division

Recent Oyster RestorationProjects

Alabama Oyster Landings 1980 - 2015

NFWF and NRDA Oyster Restoration Projects

• $6.95 million over 3 years for oyster restoration

• Plantings have occurred in Spring 2014, Fall 2014, Fall 2015 and Spring 2016

• Approximately 120,000 cubic yards of material on 1100 acres of water bottoms

2012, 2014, 2015, 2016 Cultch Planting Sites

Cedar PointEast

2012 Plant2014 Plant2015 Plant2016 Plant

Cedar PointWest

Heron Bay

Plant Year(Funding Sources)

Acres Cultch Planted(yd3)

2012(Shell Management Fees and EDRP)

100 OS= 5,103.8Total=5103.8

2014 (Spring)(National Fish and

Wildlife Foundation)400

OS=12,935.2LS=15,021.7

Total=27,956.9

2015(Natural Resource

Damage Assessment)

519OS=13,196.6LS=52,343.5

Total=65,540.1

2016(National Fish and

WildlifeFoundation)

319

OS=15,907LS=5,647

Total=21,554

Total 1,338

OS=47,142.6LS=73,012.2GrandTotal=120,154.8

2012, 2014, 2015, 2016 Cultch Planting Sites

Cedar PointEast

2012 Plant2014 Plant2015 Plant2016 Plant

Cedar PointWest

Heron Bay

Plant Year(Funding Sources)

Acres Cultch Planted(yd3)

2012(Shell Management Fees and EDRP)

100 OS= 5,103.8Total=5103.8

2014 (Spring)(National Fish and

Wildlife Foundation)400

OS=12,935.2LS=15,021.7

Total=27,956.9

2015(Natural Resource

Damage Assessment)

519OS=13,196.6LS=52,343.5

Total=65,540.1

2016(National Fish and

WildlifeFoundation)

319

OS=15,907LS=5,647

Total=21,554

Total 1,338

OS=47,142.6LS=73,012.2GrandTotal=120,154.8

Dive Quadrat / Spat Production

Cedar Point East

Dive Quadrat / Spat Production

Cedar Point West

Oyster Drills 2015 and 2016 Quadrat Dives

BR

BR

CPE

CPE

CPW

DIB RR

HB

MG

CPWDIB

HB

MG

RR

Oyster Aquaculture• New Alabama industry that is really growing• Started as Auburn University research—Dr. Bill Walton• Approximately 8 farms with several new farms coming

next year— 3-4 million oyster capacity by 2017• Can be grown and harvested in areas with high salinity

that would be unproductive due to oyster drills• Great complement to wild harvested oysters• Available in warmer months when public reefs are not

open• Biggest impediment to growth of industry is COE,

Growing Water Concerns in best area for aquaculture and future hatchery production

Remote Setting of OystersFunded for two years by the

National Fish and Wildlife Foundation

in collaboration with theAuburn University Shellfish Laboratory

Purpose of Project:To determine if there is a significant difference

in final oyster density of remote set oysters when compared to natural oyster recruitment

on cultch material.

Questions?

Chris Blankenship, DirectorMarine Resources Division

P O Box 189Dauphin Island, AL 36528

Office Number 251-861-2882Cell Number 251-709-5889

Email: chris.blankenship@dcnr.alabama.gov