FY23 Saltonstall-Kennedy Competition: Oyster Mariculture

Overview

Texas has faced major challenges in its wild oyster industry. During the 2021–2024 seasons, most of the state’s shellfish harvest areas were closed due to low oyster populations—leaving hundreds of families who rely on oyster harvesting for their livelihoods without work.

To create sustainable solutions, Texas launched its Cultivated Oyster Mariculture Program in 2020 as the last U.S. state to do so. This initiative allows for regulated oyster farming in coastal waters through two main activities:

• Off-Bottom Grow-Out Farms
• Hatcheries and Nurseries

Supported by the Saltonstall-Kennedy (SK) Grant, this project trains wild oyster harvesters to become successful oyster farmers through:

• A 9-week bilingual training course (Spanish & English)
• Hands-on technical workshops on oyster farming practices
• Creation of two 20-acre oyster “aquaparks” in Keller Bay, divided into 2-acre plots per farmer
• Financial assistance covering 2 years of operating fees

The program also fosters market growth by:

• Partnering with restaurants and retailers to promote Gulf-sourced seafood
• Training restaurant staff to educate consumers on local, sustainable oysters

The cultivated oyster mariculture project in Texas is poised to deliver significant economic benefits by transforming underutilized coastal areas into productive aquaculture zones. Two 20-acre sites were originally proposed, but this has now been expanded to 60 acres as part of a partnership with the Matagorda Bay Fisheries Cooperation. This effort not only boosts the local seafood supply but also creates new business opportunities and revitalizes job prospects for displaced wild oyster harvesters and other coastal workers in communities along the Texas coast.