Tour of oyster hatchery

Members of the Stone County Economic Development Foundation toured the aquaculture center this morning to learn more about what’s happening in their own backyard. The oyster hatchery facility is operated by Aqua Green.
Members of the foundation learned about the impact the hatchery will have on the oyster industry as well as restoration on the Gulf Coast.
The Gulf Coast was once known as the seafood capital, but that has declined because of hurricanes and the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
USM Aquaculture Center Director Kelly Lucas tells News 25 what she wants Stone County residents to take away from this tour. “I really just wanted the Economic Development Foundation to see what was going on in Stone County so they have something to get excited about and point to as this industry develops here, knowing that they’re going to have a great impact on restoration moving forward.”
The Aqua Green facility sits on about 99,000 square feet on more than 47 acres of land in Perkinston. USM students will soon use the facility for research on oyster restoration.