Aquaculture and Fisheries
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Water Quality and Shellfish on Cape Cod
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Research
Among the important fisheries and aquaculture research projects supported by WHSG are:
- PhytO-ARM, An Open-source Platform for Real-time Phytoplankton Monitoring, Data Sharing, and Automated Aquaculture Management
- Market Development to Diversify Shellfish Aquaculture Products in Massachusetts
- Source-Sink Dynamics and Habitat Modeling of Northern Sand Lance on Stellwagen Bank and Nantucket Shoals
- Increasing Northeast U.S. Aquaculture Production by Pre-Permitting Federal Ocean Space
See a full list of funded projects from 2010-present
Community Engagement
Extension and outreach efforts that support sustainable fisheries and aquaculture include:
- Providing technical information to local natural resource managers, harvesters, and aquaculturists to manage the fisheries and shellfish resources for continued sustainable production and as contributor to the local economy
- Conducting a training course on aquaculture
- Helping seafood consumers and restaurant workers understand safe storage and handling procedures for shellfish
- Distributing extension bulletins and other information on seafood production
Publications
Extension Bulletin
Tools to aid on-bottom oyster culture in deeper waters (2022)
Field nursery options as alternatives to upwelling for small oyster seed (2022)
Reports
MA Aquaculture Situation and Outlook Report (2023)
Experiments with small oyster seeds in bags as an alternative to upwelling (2022)
Shellfish and Nitrogen Issues
Nitrogen extraction potential of wild and cultured bivalves harvested from nearshore waters of Cape Cod MA-Marine Pollution Bulletin (2017)
Shellfish, Nitrogen and the Health of our Coastal Waters
Economic Impact of Aquaculture
Massachusetts Aquaculture Economic Impact Study 2015
Related Stories
Resources
For the Public
Eating Shellfish
Tips for Fresh and Tasty Shellfish – Handling Storage and Cooking
Eating Shellfish as Part of a Healthy Diet
Public Outreach about Aquaculture
Shellfish Aquaculture on Cape Cod Brochure
Cape Cod Oysters Brochure
Harvesting Shellfish
Safe Seafood Series Brochure – Safe Shellfish for Recreational Harvesters
For Growers
Growing Shellfish – Oyster & Quahog Aquaculture
NE Aquaculture Management Guide 2014
Predators of Concern to New England Shellfish Growers
Pests of Concern to New England Shellfish Growers
Diseases of Concern to New England Shellfish Growers
Evaluation of Three Northern Quahog (=Hard Clam) Mercenaria mercenaria Strains Grown in Massachusetts and New Jersey for QPX-Resistance
Managing Quahaug Parasite Unknown Disease QPX
Restoring Oysters Through Remote Set
Growing and Marketing ‘Alternative Species’ – Aquaculture
Growing Methods for Petite Surf Clams - August 2020
Wholesale dealer alternative species study-2014
Butter clams – juvenile Surf Clams SEMAC Update to MA Aquaculture Association_1-27-17 – Surf Clams
National Shellfisheries Association Quarterly Newsletter 2013 (3) – Razor Clams: An Industry Perspective
Razor Clams in the Northeast – Presentation to MA Shellfish Officers Association_2015
Aquaculture Gear Studies
Comparison of Bottom and Floating Gear for Growing American Oysters in SE Mass