Oyster Mariculture Business Technical Assistance

Overview

Cultivated oyster mariculture (COM), commonly known as oyster farming, represents the newest addition to Texas’s aquaculture sector. The Gulf of America supplies the majority of oysters consumed in the United States and supports extensive wild oyster reefs that have historically sustained the harvest of eastern oysters (Crassostrea virginica) for local consumption.

With the recent legalization of COM in Texas, prospective growers now have the opportunity to participate in the multi-billion-dollar commercial oyster industry. Advances in off-bottom farming technologies have made oyster mariculture a viable, environmentally responsible enterprise for individuals who own or lease suitable waterfront property along the Gulf Coast. Cultivated oysters typically exhibit more uniform size, greater meat yield, and can be harvested throughout the year—traits that align well with the high standards of the restaurant and premium seafood markets.