Scientists will use advanced selective breeding methods to develop better-performing lines of Eastern oysters to boost production.
Photo: NOAA Fisheries.
NOAA Fisheries and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service (USDA ARS) have jointly launched the new Northeast Oyster Breeding Center in Milford, Connecticut.
The state-of-the-art facility is intended to enhance oyster production in the Northeast through advanced selective breeding methods.
“NOAA Fisheries Milford Lab brings innovation in shellfish hatchery and nursery systems, while the USDA's Agricultural Research Service provides expertise in genetics, genomics, and performance evaluation," said NOAA Fisheries’ Assistant Administrator Janet Coit in a NOAA press announcement, following the ribbon-cutting ceremony which formally launched the facility on June 24.
"Together, we can achieve advancements that would have otherwise taken years,” Coit added.
The new center will focus on developing disease-resistant lines of Eastern oysters, capable of thriving under varying environmental conditions.
The first generation of these selectively bred oysters was spawned in April 2024, both in a traditional culture system in Kingston, Rhode Island, and in the new high-density flow-through larval culture system in Milford - which is described by NOAA as "the first of its kind" in North America.
Juvenile oysters, or “seed,” will be grown in NOAA and USDA hatcheries until they reach about 5 millimeters in size, before being distributed to oyster grower partners for further evaluation.
This year, Moonstone Oysters in Rhode Island will be among the first to grow them, NOAA said.
The Milford Laboratory, considered a world leader in shellfish aquaculture research, has modernized its hatchery to significantly increase its capacity. New developments include the Cawthron Ultra-high Density Larval System, which allows many families of oysters to be grown on a small footprint.
Additionally, the lab uses photobioreactors to produce large quantities of algae to feed the oysters, and a new quarantine system to house out-of-state broodstock safely.
“The NOAA Fisheries Milford Lab is expanding on our 90-plus year heritage as innovators in shellfish cultivation," said Gary Wikfors, Director of the Milford Laboratory.
"Our collaboration with the USDA Agricultural Research Service allows us to leverage unique expertise and make significant advancements in oyster breeding," Wikfors added.
(Left to right) Northeast Oyster Breeding Center Technicians Jill Pegnataro, Isaac Reeves, Rebecca Santos, NOAA Milford Lab Hatchery Manager Dave Veilleux, Copps Island Oyster Grower Jimmy Bloom, and Northeast Oyster Breeding Center Technician Hannah Colwell with juvenile oysters grown at the Milford Lab’s new hatchery.
Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal participated in the ribbon-cutting ceremony, praising the center as a historic investment in shellfish farming. “This center is vital to Connecticut’s economy, contributing tens of millions of dollars in sales and hundreds of jobs. The scientific work done here will benefit shellfish farming everywhere,” Blumenthal said.
Danielle Blacklock, Director of NOAA’s Office of Aquaculture, highlighted the center’s role in supporting local and sustainable seafood. “At a time when 75–85 percent of our seafood is imported, shellfish aquaculture provides our coastal communities with healthy local seafood and jobs. The Northeast Oyster Breeding Center is a significant investment to ensure the resiliency of American aquaculture,” she noted.
The ceremony concluded with a tour of the new hatchery, showcasing both tiny oyster larvae and larger juvenile oysters ready for the farm.
USDA Research Geneticist Thomas Delomas said he was optimistic about the future of oyster farming in the US: “Each year, we will use modern genetic tools to produce oysters that perform better than the previous generation," he said.
"I am very excited about the next 10–15 years of oyster farming," he added.