Dr. Ami Wilbur, Ph.D. leads a tour of the University of North Carolina Wilmington Shellfish Research Hatchery for Oyster South members at the last meeting of the group. Photo: Ed Lallo/Gulf Seafood News
by Ed Lallo/Gulf Seafood News
The annual Oyster South industry symposium isn’t a typical scientific conference. Besides being filled with relevant information on oyster aquaculture in the south Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico, it is also fun. The organization, a charitable foundation supporting shellfish aquaculture in the southern U.S., has members ranging from growers, chefs, wholesalers, gear suppliers, students and food writers.
This year members will travel to Biloxi, MS on April 6th and 7th to the grounds of the Ohr O’Keefe Art Museum. “We are trying something different, holding our meeting outdoors on the beautiful grounds of the Ohr O’Keefe Art Museum,” said Beth Walton, executive director of the organization. Walton spoke to audience at last event in Wilmington, NC two years ago. Photo: Ed Lallo/Gulf Seafood News
This year members will travel to Biloxi, MS on April 6th and 7th to the grounds of the Ohr O’Keefe Art Museum.
“We are trying something different, holding our meeting outdoors on the beautiful grounds of the Ohr O’Keefe Art Museum,” said Beth Walton, executive director of the organization. “We will have a tent with walls, as well as heaters if necessary, for the meeting,”
Attendees are being asked to share a favorite photo of their oyster boat; past, present or future.
“Information on how to successfully grow oysters can be very fragmented online. The Oyster South symposiums put all the information you would ever need in one room. It is a great and very helpful community to be a part of!” said Louisiana oyster grower Scott Mauer. Photo: Ed Lallo/Gulf Seafood News
“Almost every oyster farmer has a boat – which means everyone has something that they really like and something they really hate about their boat,” said Walton. “Instead of having just a dedicated panel for this, we want every farmer attending the Symposium to share a picture of their oyster farm boat. We aren’t sure what this session will be like exactly, but we do know that we want you to attendees involved.”
The event will host THREE MINUTE TECH TALKS of clever ideas shared by the attendees; from how to install anchor lines to automated air-drying. In addition, a diversity panel discussion focusing on women and people of color in the sustainable oyster-farming world has been scheduled.
“Information on how to successfully grow oysters can be very fragmented online. The Oyster South symposiums put all the information you would ever need in one room. It is a great and very helpful community to be a part of!” said Louisiana oyster grower Scott Mauer, who also is involved in sustainable seed production. “We are 100% dedicated to the success of the industry, seed being a crucial part of that. Operating our nursery and seed production for the industry is the only thing that would keep me from attending the conference.”
This year members will travel to Biloxi, MS on April 6th and 7th to the grounds of the Ohr O’Keefe Art Museum. Members listen to speakers at last meeting held two years ago. Photo: Ed Lallo/Gulf Seafood News
Before the start of the annual meeting, Mississippi State University’s agricultural economists Dan Petrolia and Oyster South will host a workshop on the challenges of finding and establishing markets for southern farm-raised oysters.
The workshop, ‘Connecting the Dots: Finding Markets for Southern Farm-Raised Oysters’, will be held on Tuesday, April 5th from 1 pm to 2:30 pm at the Ohr O’Keefe Museum in Biloxi, MS. The workshop is intended to be a discussion amongst growers, distributors and chefs to identify common hurdles and potential opportunities.
“We know that changing dates has made this year’s Symposium a bit more of a challenge, with the event now set for a Tuesday through Thursday,” said Walton. “Come early and explore Biloxi, take one of the tours or join a workshop and stick around until Thursday night to catch the Director’s reception. We’d love to have you at the Symposium – it’s been too long!
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