Natalie is a biologist whose work supports Florida’s shellfish aquaculture industry. She performs applied research to understand factors that can improve aquaculture operations and conducts public outreach.

University of Florida/IFAS Shellfish Aquaculture Extension
Email: [email protected]

Brian is director of the Grand Isle Oyster Research Lab where he oversees the Lab’s breeding and research programs. He has extensive experience working with triploid and tetraploid oysters.

Louisiana State University and Louisiana Sea Grant
Email: [email protected]

Ellis (“Chappy”) works as a technician with the Harte Research Institute on research and education efforts aimed at establishing an oyster aquaculture industry in Texas.

Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi
Email: [email protected]

Charlie serves as assistant director of the Division of Aquaculture in the state agency that regulates the aquaculture industry in Florida.

Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
Email: [email protected]

Rusty helps oyster farmers navigate requirements for starting farms, focusing on making farms more successful as businesses. He also conducts an annual survey to study the economic impact of the Alabama oyster culture industry.

Auburn University Shellfish Lab
Email: [email protected]

Andy is an associate professor and director of the Aquatic Pathobiology Laboratory. He researches environmental pathology and toxicology of marine organisms to understand the effects of stressors on aquatic species.

University of Florida, Department of Environmental and Global Health
Email: [email protected]

Bob ("Skid“) is executive director of the East Coast Shellfish Growers Association, serving as an industry advocate and active member of the Interstate Shellfish Sanitation Conference.

East Coast Shellfish Growers Association
Email: [email protected]

Scott manages Auburn University’s shellfish hatchery on Dauphin Island. He oversees both hatchery research activities and commercial production of seed for the oyster culture industry in the Gulf of Mexico.

Auburn University Shellfish Lab
Email: [email protected]

Leslie provides extension support to the molluscan shellfish aquaculture industry in Florida. She also conducts applied research in all phases of production management.

University of Florida/IFAS Shellfish Aquaculture Extension
Email: [email protected]

John for many years was a research professor at Louisiana State University and director of the Sea Grant Oyster Research Hatchery. Now retired, he co-owns an oyster farm in Fort Morgan, AL and operates a consulting business.

Navy Cove Oyster Farm and Sea Farms Consulting
Email: [email protected]

Bill was director of Auburn University’s Shellfish Laboratory, where he was responsible for initiating an oyster culture industry in Alabama and supporting development in other Gulf states. He currently is coordinator of the VIMS shellfish aquaculture program.

Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences (VIMS)
Email: [email protected]

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Farm Service Agency (FSA) is responsible for the delivery of federal farm programs to help producers manage risks and recover from disasters. Heather Boyd is an agricultural program specialist for the Florida FSA State Office.

USDA Farm Service Agency
Email: [email protected]