Restoring the oyster population on the Gulf Coast

The oyster industry in the Gulf of Mexico has shown signs of rapid decline over the years, but USM is working diligently to restore our oyster population.

Meet the oyster team at USM’s Thad Cochran Marine Aquaculture Center in Ocean Springs as they prepare for a busy day of research and care for oyster larvae.

USM’s current hatchery produces 300 million oyster larvae every year, but they’re building a new hatchery which will double the number of oysters they produce. It should be operating in 2025.

USM’s oyster team couldn’t be more excited about their work. Team member Matthew Lancon said, “I grew up on the water and when I was about 15 or 14 years old. My grandfather and my dad opened an oyster farm on Deer Island and it was my dream to work there. The Bonnet Carre Spillway made them lose the business because it killed all of the oysters. At that point, I just wanted to dedicate what I do for a living to this.”

Team member Benjamin Thames said, “The oyster industry is just paramount to the ecological and economical health of the Gulf Coast.”

The decline in oysters is a result of recent events, both man-made and natural. Oysters are not only critical for the seafood industry, but also maintaining water quality. A single adult oyster can filter more than 50 gallons of water a day.