Departmental Seminar

The eastern oyster is a cornerstone of both Texas ecosystems and coastal economies, but oyster populations are under increasing pressure from environmental stressors and heavy harvesting. A new opportunity to promote population recovery while meeting public demand has emerged with recent legislation allowing oyster aquaculture in Texas. Since 2021, Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Texas A&M – Corpus Christi have jointly operated an oyster selective breeding program to support the new and rapidly growing industry. Central to the operation of the breeding program is the presence of two genetically distinct oyster populations found in Texas waters: a southern group unique to the state and a northern group that stretches across the northern Gulf. In this talk, I will discuss the Texas oyster breeding program and will highlight how research into the genetic and physical differences between these oyster populations can guide the development of the breeding program and can serve as a model for the expansion of marine aquaculture in Texas.