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TABLE OF CONTENTS: *All information will (eventually) reside electronically at www.vims.edu/map/aquaculture
Tools
Cultchless Oyster Budget Manual
Regulations & Permitting
Shellfish Culture Regulatory Agency Contacts & Links
Shellfish Aquaculture Permits and Licenses
Shellfish Harvester Regulations Fact Sheet
FAQs: Interstate Transport of Shellfish (import/export)
Shellfish Health
FAQs: Shellfish Health & Biosecurity
Miscellaneous
FAQs: Buying Oyster Seed
FAQs: Counting Seed Oysters by Volume
VIMS Shellfish Aquaculture Resources
In progress
FAQs: Where to buy oyster and clam seed
Shellfish Aquaculture: Required Training & Certification
Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC)
Shellfish Leases, Gear Restrictions, Harvest Reporting, Boater Safety
Regulations, Bag Limits, Vessel Sanitation
Shellfish Aquaculture webpage: http://www.mrc.state.va.us/Shellfish_Aquaculture.shtm
Desktop Map of Condemnation Zones –searchable GIS map of leased areas, public ground (and more)
with an overlay of shellfish condemnation zones (areas that are not approved for shellfish harvest).
https://webapps.mrc.virginia.gov/public/maps/chesapeakebay_map.php
VMRC Contacts:
Dr. Jim Wesson, Repletion Department, 757-247-2121 or [email protected]
Ben Stagg, Engineering/Surveying Department, 757-247-2225 or [email protected]
Virginia Department of Health/ Division of Shellfish Sanitation (VDH/DSS)
Growing Area Classification & Monitoring, Shellfish
Handling (Vibrio Control Plan), Processing Plant Sanitation,
Vessel Certification
Webpage: http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/EnvironmentalHealth/Shellfish/
Growing area classification:
http://www.vdh.state.va.us/EnvironmentalHealth/Shellfish/classification/index.htm
Condemnation maps: https://webapps.mrc.virginia.gov/public/maps/condemnation.html
Contacts: Central Office (CO): 804-864-7480
Director: B. Keith Skiles, MPH ([email protected])
Plant Program Manager: E. Danielle Schools ([email protected])
Growing Area Manager: Eric T. Aschenbach ([email protected])
Shellfish Field Offices
Accomac Field Office (ACFO): 757-787-5864 x221
Field Director: Paul H. Widgen ([email protected])
Norfolk Field Office (NFO): 757-683-8461
Field Director: Jonathan D. Dickerson ([email protected])
White Stone Field Office (WSFO): 804-435-1095
Field Director: David B. Geeson ([email protected])
Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC) Standard Permit
and License List: intended as a guide only
Aquaculture Product Owners License ($10) Renewable each year
*Comes with mandatory reporting requirements –wait to apply until product is in the water. Product
owner license in needed to obtain an aquaculture husbandry permit.
Aquaculture Harvester Permit ($5) Renewable each year
For hired labor other than the product owner.
Obtain from a local agent (to find agent locations – http://mrc.virginia.gov/mrcagents.shtm
Specific to warm water harvest regulations from May 1 – September 30: Renewable each year
Warm Water Harvest Regulations: http://mrc.virginia.gov/regulations/FR1230.shtm
Online Permit Applications:https://webapps.mrc.virginia.gov/public/fisheries/shellfishpermits.php
Aquaculture husbandry permit
* Required from May 1 – Sept 30 for cage culturists who want to handle oysters for husbandry
purposes after the designated harvesting times specified in the warm water harvest regulations
Warmwater shellfish GPS permit
* Required from May 1 – Sept 30 for the harvest of oysters outside of the designated harvesting
times specified in the warm water harvest regulations (for those who work on the tidal cycle).
Shellfish Icing Permit
*First apply for an icing permit with your local Va Dept. of Health, Shellfish Sanitation field office
* Required from May 1 – Sept 30 for the harvest of oysters using ice outside of the
designated harvesting times specified in the warm water harvest regulations
For those that deviate from approved on bottom activity:
General Permit #4 http://www.mrc.virginia.gov/regulations/fr1130.shtm
* If placing gear greater than 12 inches off substrate on leased bottom and/or individually marking
gear (of any height) on leased bottom.
Joint Permit Application (with a detailed plan to VMRC Habitat Management Division)
*For floating gear - This applies to oyster floats, floating bags and floating upweller systems
& for any bottom activity not on leased ground
*Permit costs varies depending on the situation & process can take several months - give plenty of
lead time
http://www.mrc.virginia.gov/forms/index.shtm *select Habitat Management
Shellfish Harvester Regulations Fact Sheet
Harvesting
The Virginia Department of
Health Division of Shellfish
Sanitation (VDH/DSS) classifies and monitors shellfish
harvest areas based on levels of
pollution.
Approved areas are growing areas where harvest for direct marketing is allowed.
Condemned areas are areas where harvesting is allowed with certain restrictions.
To know whether harvesting areas are approved or condemned go to http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/EnvironmentalHealth/Shellfish/index.htm
The Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC) has a mobile map which will allow you to check the shellfish closure status to a specific lease by going to https://webapps.mrc.virginia.gov/public/maps/condemnation.html
Tags Harvested shellfish must be tagged
with required information. The 4 W’s on Shellstock Tags provides us with WHO harvested the product, WHEN it was harvested, WHERE it was harvested, and WHAT type of shellfish was harvested.
The information on this tag follows
the shellfish from harvest to the
final consumer.
Follow harvest and
seasonal time tables for the
harvest of oysters and clams. No
harvest is allowed before sunrise
from June 15 through August 31.
Handling
Harvesting Boat The boat must be registered with
the state;
Be properly constructed;
Have an available sanitation
device;
Shading provided to protect the
shellfish; and
Have USCG approved equipment.
Discharge of human waste overboard is not allowed since it
can lead to contamination of the
shellfish in the harvest area
resulting in closures.
Proper culling techniques should be used to assure shellfish
are available to future harvesters.
Daily harvest time Restrictions on oysters (VMRC)
Oysters must be harvested,
offloaded and landed by the
curfew times listed below in
order to limit Vibrio bacteria
growth.
Harvest times can be extended
from May through September as
long as the harvester is using an
approved method of harvest such
as the use of ice or a GPS tracking
device and a permit has been
granted.
sunrise to sunset
11 am 10 am
12 noon
Transportation
Delivering shellfish directly to certified dealers facility using mechanical refrigeration (at 45°F or less) or ice when transport times exceed 1 hour and providing shade ensures a protected product.
No shellfish should be
exposed to gasoline, garbage,
animals, etc.
For Harvester Activities
related to: Water classification/monitoring Plant processing inspection Vessel certification
Call your VDH, Division of Shellfish Sanitation Office
For harvesters activities related to:
Boater safety regulations Bag/ size limits Seasonal time limits Vessel Sanitation Device Training
Call Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC)
(757) 247-2200
VDH/DSS
Central Office 804 864 7480
Field Offices:
Accomac 757 787 5864 x221
Norfolk 757 683 8461
White Stone 804 435 1095
Hatchery products (larvae
& small seed) are the best
choice – they’re the most
biosecure & economical
Contacts:
Ryan Carnegie, VIMS
804-684-7713
Karen Hudson, VIMS
804-684-7742
Jim Wesson, VMRC
757-247-2121
Protect the unwanted spread of shellfish disease by following the rules!
Buying shellfish seed from out of state (importing)
Importing shellfish to Virginia waters from outside the state is regulated by the Virginia Marine Resources
Commission (VMRC). These regulations are in place to protect the industry from the spread of shellfish
diseases. You are responsible for obtaining (1) an importation permit from VMRC which, in most cases,
requires (2) a pathology evaluation by an approved laboratory indicating that the shellfish does not pose
an unacceptable disease risk.
Link to the VMRC import regulation:
http://mrc.virginia.gov/regulations/fr754.shtm
Selling shellfish seed out of state (exporting)
When exporting seed out of Virginia, it’s still good to know the rules. While the responsibility is on the
receiver’s end, do your part to make sure the import regulations of the receiving state are followed.
Pathology evaluations – resources & considerations
A pathology evaluation is a thorough health examination of a sample from a shellfish population. Where
to get the certification is the easy part –services are offered at the VIMS Shellfish Pathology Laboratory
under the direction of Dr. Ryan Carnegie.
The harder part is the clean bill of health that is required. Shellfish out in the natural environment are
going to accumulate what’s out there – and in Virginia’s case, that’s mainly dermo disease. The advice –
stick to products coming directly out of the hatchery. These have the
best chance of being “clean” because they’ve spent the least amount of
time in unfiltered water.
Considerations:
Pathology certifications are not free – it is a cost share to cover
supplies
Check with the laboratory in advance to confirm cost &
schedule
Check whether or not your transfer makes good biological sense
before moving ahead
The larger the shellfish, the more expensive– larvae and small
seed are most economical to screen
Sample size for testing is 60 animals, but for small seed, samples of 200 are requested
Proper farm
management is the key
to keeping your shellfish
healthy and preventing
the introduction of
disease
Contacts:
Karen Hudson, VIMS
804-684-7742
Ryan Carnegie, VIMS
804-684-7713
The importance of shellfish health
Good health is essential to the growth and survival of shellfish stocks, and good condition at market.
Virginia waters are inhabited by a number of shellfish pathogens. Ensuring good health means managing
these and preventing the introduction of new, exotic diseases.
What do I need to do to be biosecure?
Think of biosecurity as a set of measures designed to reduce the risk of
introduction, establishment and spread of pathogenic agents to,
from, or within a farm. We maximize biosecurity in part through
good farm management, avoiding overcrowding and keeping stress
on animals low. An important additional means is the screening of imported seed to be sure it does not
carry exotic pathogens or levels of established pathogens, like dermo, so high that it will worsen disease
locally.
Shellfish disease threats in Virginia
Dermo disease is the primary local oyster disease threat, with MSX disease also causing a modest level of
mortality in some years. QPX disease causes occasional mortality in clams, and SSO disease in Seaside
oysters. All of these are caused by protozoan parasites that infect only shellfish—not humans.
Shellfish disease threats outside Virginia – key players
ROD (formerly JOD, or juvenile oyster disease, caused by a bacterium) affects small hatchery seed in the
Northeast. The protozoan parasite Bonamia has been found to infect eastern oysters on very rare occasions,
in Massachusetts and North Carolina. Seed imports from outside Virginia must be free of detection of
these diseases. Worldwide, concern is growing about other emerging infections caused by viruses and
possibly environmental bacteria as well. We have not detected these diseases in shellfish populations here,
but they remain the focus of our surveillance attention.
Report unusual mortality
Industry is a key partner in the biosecurity management of Virginia
shellfish aquaculture populations. What can you do? Report any unusual
mortality at any time of year, anything above expected mortality for a
given crop and location, as this could indicate an emerging problem. The
VIMS Shellfish Pathology Laboratory routinely investigates such reports
at no charge to industry.
Make informed choices and
record seed performance
VIMS/ABC recommendations
Low salinity: DEBY and LoLA
High/moderate salinity: DEBY, XB, HANA
Ploidy – diploid or triploid?
Ploidy is the number of sets of chromosomes in a cell. Diploids have 2 sets (1 from Mom, 1 from Dad),
triploids have 3 (the extra set is what makes it special).
Which one should you choose? Triploids are the most widely used on commercial farms in Virginia
because they grow fast and are marketable all year round (they don’t reproduce). Diploids are
reproductive, and therefore aren’t marketable due to poor meat quality and yield in the summer months
when oysters are spawning.
What you choose is really dependent on when you plan to market your oysters. Keep in mind - diploid
strains (see below) have better growth and survival compared to wild oysters. Consider growing multiple
varieties - but keep them separate.
Strain – know what you are buying
Strains (a.k.a. lines, or stocks) are batches of oysters that have
been selectively bred for improved performance - mainly faster
growth and better survival in the face of diseases (MSX and dermo). Ask your seed provider what they
offer. There are a variety of lines available in Virginia, thanks to the breeding work conducted at VIMS’
Aquaculture Genetics & Breeding Technology Center (ABC).
Hatcheries have the option to produce seed using selected stocks from VIMS and/or produce their own
local stocks. VIMS stocks have unique names like “Deby”,
“Lola”, “Hana” or “Crosbreed (XB)”. The hatcheries will
name their crosses too - usually after the local waterbody.
So how do you know what to choose? The selected stocks
generally have good performance overall, but it really depends on the conditions at your particular
location. There’s no clear-cut answer, but there are a few good common sense suggestions: Ask around -
what are other growers in your area using? Inform the seed seller of your location, salinity and ask for
recommendations. Consider trying two strains & comparing their performance (but keep them separate!)
Other Considerations
Orders typically require a deposit and they need to be placed in advance or availability may be limited,
especially if you want a particular strain or size.
Triploids and/or for disease resistant strains are usually more expensive because there is a licensing fee
charged to the hatcheries for use of the improved stocks.
Don’t buy more seed than you have gear to maintain it as it grows
Buy larger seed & perfect the grow out technique first, before adding a nursery component
Sieve size does not equal seed size (rule of thumb: stock in mesh 1 size smaller than the sieve size)
Adjust the volume
depending on size of
the seed to be
accurate & efficient
Counting Guidelines
Seed size count volume
1/4 inch 100 mls
½ inch 500 mls ¾ inch & larger 1 Liter
Number of seed per liter:
average seed count x factor (count volume)
100 mls = 10
200 mls = 5 500 mls = 2
Counting by volume is a good method for a large numbers of oysters. It can be done quickly and without
special equipment but beware – accuracy is compromised if attempting to count seed of mixed sizes.
Definitions
Sieve - method for separating different size classes within a batch of oysters. A sieve is made of
wire screen, different size screen is used for sorting each size class
Size Class - the different sizes of oysters separated by
sieving
Materials Needed
Plastic containers of various sizes (1/2 liter (500 mls), 1 liter)
A large table for working space
A raceway for sieving
Sieves (sizes ¼ “, ½”, ¾”, 1”)
Water supply
Baskets to hold seed
Method
Step 1. Sieve seed if it has a lot of size variation
Step 2. Put a pile of the first size class of seed on a table
Step 3. Scoop seed into the appropriate measuring container (based on guidelines above)
Step 4. Shake gently so seed is level with top
Step 5. Dump “sample” out and count, repeat 3 times, and take average
Step 6. Calculate number of seed per liter (average seed count x factor)
Step 7. Measure the total volume of seed in the size class (i.e. number of liters)
Step 8. Calculate total number of oysters in size class (number of seed per liter x number of liters)
Step 8. Repeat steps 2-8 for each sieve size
Have a question and don’t
know where to start?
Contact Karen Hudson
Shellfish Aquaculture Extension
VIMS, Marine Advisory Services
804-684-7742
Genetics and Breeding Selective breeding has become a cornerstone for improving
production in many aquaculture species. Aquaculture breeding has
played an especially strong role in Virginia and the surrounding area
by producing selected varieties that have improved survival and
growth relative to wild oysters. The Aquaculture Genetics and
Breeding Center (ABC) houses the VIMS program for genetic
improvement, with other genetic capabilities at VIMS including
population genetics and phylogenetics. The ABC breeding program
maintains a strong link to industry through the distribution of
genetically improved material to hatcheries and an active Industry Advisory Committee to ABC.
Dr. Stan Allen: Director, Aquaculture Genetics and Breeding Technology Center
Dr. Jessica Moss Small: Assistant Director, Aquaculture Genetics and Breeding Technology Center
Shellfish Health Managing diseases to maintain good health in cultured organisms is one of the fundamental challenges
faced by aquaculturists. Ensuring a high level of biosecurity with regard to infectious diseases is a primary
objective for health managers and regulators. The research we conduct and the guidance we provide in
our advisory roles informs aquaculture practices and shapes regulatory policies that support the growth
of shellfish aquaculture.
Dr. Ryan Carnegie: Shellfish pathology and aquaculture health management
Dr. Kimberly Reece: Harmful algal blooms
Human Health and Aquaculture Seafood safety is a growing concern with the rapid expansion of shellfish aquaculture. Ensuring that a
healthy and safe product reaches the consumer is paramount. VIMS scientists conduct research to better
understand links between the microbiology and ecology of growing waters and human health. Studies
range from developing better tools to accurately assess public health risks to characterizing the ecology,
environmental tolerance and persistence of human pathogens and toxins in marine systems.
Dr. Kimberly Reece: Human pathogenic Vibrios
Dr. Juliette Smith: Food web transfer, accumulation and effects of algal toxins
Economics Providing applied economic research and extension to meet the needs of industry, related businesses,
local governments and others.
Thomas Murray: Marine business and applied economics
Karen Hudson: Shellfish aquaculture information/advisory assistance