Part I: The role of oysters in our estuarine ecosystem and the threats facing them – June 26, 2020
Dani Bailey, Texas Sea Grant, Introduction: The role of oysters in our estuarine ecosystem and the threats facing them – view slides here.
Sara Pace, University of Southern Mississippi, Oysters 101- Overview of oyster life cycle and importance to ecosystems and humans; vulnerabilities at multiple life stages – view slides here.
Dr. Jennifer Pollack, Texas A&M University, Habitat restoration and ecosystem benefits – view slides here.
Dr. Sean Powers, University of South Alabama, How fresh water/salinity from spillway release/management actions impact oysters – view slides here.
Question-answer session with all speakers
Part II: Increasing resilience of wild and farmed oysters before, during, and after an oil spill – July 27, 2020
Dani Bailey, Texas Sea Grant, Introduction, Increasing resilience of wild and farmed oysters before, during, and after an oil spill – view slides here.
Jason Herrmann, Alabama Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources, How natural resource managers prepare for and respond to oil spills
Dr. Bill Walton, Auburn University, Strategies to improve the resilience of wild and farmed oysters before and after an oil spill – view slides here.
Dr. Joe Fox, Texas A&M University Corpus Christi, Texas oyster mariculture development- view slides here.
Question and answer panel
Part III: Oysters and oil spills – September 14, 2020
Dani Bailey, seminar overview
Susan Laramore, Associate Research Professor, Florida Atlantic University, Toxicity of crude oil and dispersants – effects on oysters
Ruth Carmichael, Professor of Marine Sciences, University of South Alabama, Influence of carbon and nitrogen from oil on Gulf oysters
Raz Halili, Prestige Oyster Inc., Influence of oil spills on the oyster industry
Mario Marquez, Oyster Aquaculture specialist, Texas Sea Grant, A Sea Grant system to help the building of a new oyster aquaculture process in Texas
Question and answer panel with all speakers
Featured image: In this “Sink Your Shucks” oyster recycling program in Corpus Christi, Texas, volunteers collect truckloads of discarded oyster shells from locally participating restaurants. They bundle the shells and place them back in the bays to rebuild oyster reefs and promote regeneration of oysters. (Jennifer Pollack)