Amount Requested: $15,000
Principal Investigator: Nadia Ruffin, MS
Funding Sources:
2019 North Central Farmer/Rancher SARE Grant Recipient- $9,000
The American Eastern Oyster’s (Crassostrea virginica) wild population numbers are in sharp decline due to water quality and disease. This spells disaster for both the American Oyster farmer and consumer as Crassostrea virginica is the most consumed oyster in the United States. The American Oyster’s presence along American coastal waters are the basis of important reef systems and water filtration. The overall goal is to test the feasibility of rearing American Eastern Oysters in a Recirculating Biofloc Aquaculture System. This system should reduce/eliminate losses or reduced quality of oyster stock affected by environmental factors, predators, natural disasters, and disease. As a result, oysters reared in this system should provide a higher quality end product and as a corollary allow the farmer to demand a higher price point.
Amount Requested: $27,000
Principal Investigator: Chandler Glover
Funding Sources
2020 North Central SARE Grant Recipient: $18,000