Application of Triploidy to an Emergent Oyster Culture Industry on Florida s West Coast: Results of Growers Trials Carter Cyr, Reggie Markham, and Leslie Sturmer University of Florida / IFAS Florida Sea Grant Shellfish Aquaculture Extension Key, FL
Oyster Culture on Florida s West Coast: An Emergent Industry RATIONAL Fishery failure in Apalachicola Bay, 2012 Water column leases approved, 2013 WEI certification program, 2014 Infrastructure provided by hard clam aquaculture industry
Oyster Culture on Florida s West Coast: An Emergent Industry STATUS 76 clam (bottom) leases modified for water column use 64 new oyster culture leases (128 acres) 106 certified oyster growers No production statistics
Application of Triploidy to an Emergent Oyster Culture Industry on Florida s West Coast Project demonstrates and evaluates an oyster breeding process under local conditions 2N 3N OBJECTIVES are two fold: 1) Document production performance, assess health, and evaluate quality of diploid (2N) and triploid (3N) oysters 2) Quantify effects of different culture methods and seasonal harvests Funded by: 2015-18
GROWER TRIALS Ten growers in 5 counties Pine Island (PI), Lee County Charlotte Harbor (CH), Charlotte County Key (CK), Levy County Oyster Bay (OB), Wakulla County Alligator Harbor (AH), Franklin County Two seasonal trials Winter conditions Summer conditions Alligator Harbor, Franklin County Key, Levy County Gulf of Mexico Charlotte Harbor, Charlotte County Oyster Bay, Wakulla County Key, Levy County FLORIDA
Bottom cages Adjustable longline bags cages GROWER TRIALS Gear used Bottom cages o CH, PI, CK-1 bags o CK-2,3,4 o AH-1,2 Adjustable longlines o OB-1,2 cages o OB-3
SEED PRODUCTION SPAWNS Trial 1: April 2016 3N: FL west coast 2N X LSU 4N 2N: FL west coast stocks, half siblings Trial 2: September/October 2016 3N: LSU and AU hatcheries 2N: FL west coast hatchery LAND-BASED NURSERY Trials 1&2 3N & 2N: Nurse in wellers at commercial facility in Key
SEED DISTRIBUTION Grower Trials Diploid Seed # SH (mm) Triploid Seed # SH (mm) 1 2500 24 2500 24 2 2500 21 2500 26 Plant Dates 22 Jul-2 Aug 2016 22 Mar-5 Apr 2017
HARVEST / SAMPLE COLLECTION Growers were asked to stock 3-4 sample bags/baskets at final density and not to harvest from them Sample bags/baskets maintained as others After 7-8 months, sample bags/baskets were collected Live oysters were counted per bag to estimate survival Samples from each bag were measured for growth Grower Trials 1 2 Harvest Dates 22 Mar-5 Apr 2017 24 Oct-26 Nov 2017 Growout Time 8 months Growout Season Winter 7-8 months Summer
DATA COLLECTION In addition, activity sheets provided to growers at start of trials Record when oysters are planted and transferred and number and sizes of bags Record estimated time for various culture activities (plant, transfer, fouling control, harvest, etc.)
Water Temperature ( F) 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 TRIAL 1: Temperature (Jul 2016 Mar 2017) Avg Temp= 71-81 F
Shell Height (mm) 110 100 90 80 70 60 TRIAL 1: Growth-Shell Height 2N 3N 84 85 83 74 73 98 75 mm = 3 67 65 72 83 65 73 50 40 Gear Type: Charlotte Harbor Bottom Cage Key-1 Bottom Cage Key-2 Oyster Bay-2 Adjustable Long Line Alligator Harbor-1 Alligator Harbor-2
16 14 2N TRIAL 1: Growth-Meat Weight 3N 14 Meat Weight (g) 12 10 8 6 4 6 9 4 7 7 6 6 5 8 6 6 2 0 Gear Type: Charlotte Harbor Bottom Cage Key-1 Bottom Cage Key-2 Oyster Bay-2 Adjustable Long Line Alligator Harbor-1 Alligator Harbor-2
SHELL SHAPE Preferred Ratio: Shell Height (SH) 3 : Shell Length (SL) 2 : Shell Width (SW) 1 Fan Ratio SL/SH = 2/3 = 0.67 Cup Ratio SW/SH = 1/3 = 0.33
Fan Ratio 0.8 0.6 0.4 0.65 0.66 TRIAL 1: Shape-Fan Ratio 0.70 0.68 0.64 0.64 0.54 0.53 0.57 0.64 2N 0.60 3N 0.62 0.2 0 Gear Type: Charlotte Harbor Bottom Cage Key-1 Bottom Cage Key-2 Oyster Bay-2 Adjustable Long Line Alligator Harbor-1 Alligator Harbor-2
0.4 0.3 0.36 0.34 TRIAL 1: Shape-Cup Ratio 2N 3N 0.33 0.31 0.30 0.30 0.30 0.29 0.30 0.30 0.27 0.27 Cup Ratio 0.2 0.1 0 Gear Type: Charlotte Harbor Bottom Cage Key-1 Bottom Cage Key-2 Oyster Bay-2 Adjustable Long Line Alligator Harbor-1 Alligator Harbor-2
TRIAL 1: Survival Winter: Jul/Aug 2016 Mar/Apr 2017 Survival (%) Location Gear Diploid Triploid Key-1 Key-2 Alligator Harbor-1 Alligator Harbor-2 Bottom Cages s s s 91 89 99 98 99 99 97 98
Charlotte Harbor, Charlotte County
CK-1 CK-1 Key, Levy County CK-2 CK-2
OB-1 Oyster Bay, Wakulla County OB-1 OB-2 OB-2
Alligator Harbor, Franklin County AH-1 AH-2
100 TRIAL 2: Temperature (Mar Nov 2017) Water Temperature ( F) 90 80 70 60 50 Avg Temp = 80-82 F Pine Island-Bottom cage Key 3- bag Oyster Bay 1-Adjustable long line Oyster Bay 3- cage Alligator Harbor 1- bag 40
100 TRIAL 2: Growth-Shell Height Shell Height (mm) 90 80 70 60 50 45 2N 52 3N 61 75 63 73 75 mm = 3 52 52 54 67 Gear Type: 40 Pine Island Bottom Cage Key-3 Key-4 Oyster Bay-3 Cage Alligator Harbor-1
Meat Weight (g) 16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 2 2N 3 3N TRIAL 2: Growth-Meat Weight 7 4 4 6 3 3 4 5 0 Gear Type: Pine Island Bottom Cage Key-3 Key-4 Oyster Bay-3 Cage Alligator Harbor-1
CONDITION INDEX Weight ratio that describes quality of meat or yield ( fatness ) Relative value, no ideal condition index range Dry Meat Weight CI = * 100 Whole Weight Dry Shell Weight
10 TRIAL 2: Condition Index Condition Index 8 6 4 2 2N 3N 6.5 6.0 5.9 7.2 7.9 5.9 8.1 6.5 0 Gear Type: Pine Island Bottom Cage Key-3 Key-4 Oyster Bay-3 Cage Alligator Harbor-1
TRIAL 2: Survival Summer: Mar/Apr 2017 Oct/Nov 2017 Survival (%) Grower Gear Diploid Triploid Key-3 Key-4 Oyster Bay-3 Alligator Harbor-1 s s Cages s 68 68 70 57 82 85 67 92
TRIAL 2: Biofouling = Fouling Weight / Shell Weight (%) Biofouling (%) Grower Gear Diploid Triploid Key-3 Key-4 Oyster Bay-2 Oyster Bay-3 Alligator Harbor-1 s s Adjustable Longline Cages s 65 37 118 47 22 33 7 22 26 9
Key CK-3 Oyster Bay OB-2 TRIAL 2 Alligator Harbor AH-1 CK-3 CK-4 OB-2 Adjustable Longline OB-3 AH-1 CK-4 Cage OB-3
SUMMARY Multiple demonstration sites were established at commercial shellfish aquaculture leases on Florida s west coast. March 2017
SUMMARY Production differences related to ploidy type, farm location, gear type, and season were documented. November 2017
SUMMARY Potential advantages of triploidy, such as faster growth, shorter crop times, and year-round quality oyster meat were also documented. March 2017
Follow this project by viewing the news blog posted at http://shellfish.ifas.ufl.edu
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ALL PARTICIPATING GROWERS Ray Bauer Carter Davis Jon Gill Deborah Keller Bill Lartz Johnny Sheridan Shawn Stephenson Darryl Taylor Ray Vickery Bobby Witt FUNDING: NOAA National Sea Grant