Commercial Oyster Production in Recirculating Systems

Goal: Develop a commercially viable land-based system for producing premium half-shell Eastern oysters.

Ocean Equities, LLC, TerrAqua, and the Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology (IMET) at the University of Maryland Baltimore Campus collaborated on a proof-of-concept project to evaluate whether Eastern oysters could be grown economically in a recirculating saltwater aquaculture system. Building on earlier success with Pacific oysters, the project assessed the commercial potential of producing premium oysters under tightly controlled, biosecure conditions.

Land-based production offered several potential advantages over conventional oyster farming, including improved food safety, faster growth, consistent quality, and the ability to tailor oyster taste and texture for premium half-shell markets.

Although the project ended prematurely because of a disease outbreak, it provided valuable insights into the technical, biological, and economic challenges of producing Eastern oysters in recirculating aquaculture systems and helped advance the development of land-based shellfish aquaculture.

Funding: Maryland Industrial Partnerships (MIPS) program and private investment.