NOAA Hosts National Symposium on Shellfish and the Environment

Senator Reed at NOAA Shellfish Symposium

U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) was a featured speaker at the 2008 NOAA National Symposium on Shellfish and the Environment in Warwick, Rhode Island on June 9, 2008. Pictured (l-r) are Brian Pawlak and Michael Rubino of NOAA, Senator Reed, Sandy Shumway of the University of Connecticut, Tim Keeney of NOAA, and Bob Rheault of the East Coast Shellfish Growers Association. [NOAA Aquaculture Program photo].

On June 9-10, 2008, the NOAA Aquaculture and Habitat Conservation programs hosted the 2008 National Symposium on Shellfish and the Environment in Warwick, Rhode Island. Organized by Dr. Sandy Shumway of the University of Connecticut, the symposium was designed to address important issues regarding shellfish aquaculture in the United States. Topics included carrying capacity, eutrophication, water quality, habitat, invasive species, genetics, disease issues, social aspects, gear/harvest impacts, and cumulative impacts.

U.S. Senator Jack Reed of Rhode Island was a featured speaker on the first day of the meeting. In his remarks Senator Reed highlighted the proactive approach the Ocean State is taking to ensure a sustainable aquaculture industry and protect the marine environment. Other speakers included scientific and policy experts from the United States, Canada, and Europe who addressed a range of topics focused on the environmental effects of shellfish culture. Participants included representatives from the U.S. shellfish industry, non-government organizations, researchers, and federal and state officials.

Information generated by the symposium will be used to facilitate public policy and resource management decisions for shellfish culture in the United States. A summary of the meeting will be available later this year.

Shellfish Symposium Speakers

The NOAA Shellfish Symposium attracted scientific and policy experts from the U.S., Canada, and Europe. Pictured (l-r) are Michael Rubino and Tim Keeney of NOAA, Sandy Shumway of the University of Connecticut, Brian Pawlak of NOAA, JoAnn Burkholder of North Carolina State University, Peter Cranford of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Jon Grant of Dalhousie University, and  Odd Lindhal of Kristineberg Marine Biological Station in Sweden. [NOAA Aquaculture Program photo].

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Final Agenda

MONDAY, JUNE 9, 2008

8:00 - 8:15 a.m. Welcome

  • Dr. Sandra Shumway, University of Connecticut (pdf, 1.9 MB)

8:15 - 8:45 a.m. Opening Remarks

  • Timothy R. Keeney, NOAA Deputy Undersecretary for Oceans and Atmosphere
  • Dr. Michael Rubino, NOAA Aquaculture Program Manager
  • Brian Pawlak, NOAA Office of Habitat Conservation Deputy Director

Eutrophication/Carrying Capacity/Water Quality

8:45 - 9:00 a.m. Jon Grant (Dalhousie University)

  • Shellfish Culture in the Realm of Ecosystem-Based Management (pdf, 1.4 MB)

9:00 - 9:15 a.m. Peter Cranford (Fisheries and Oceans Canada)

  • Ecosystem Interactions with Intensive Mussel Aquaculture: Research Applications (pdf, 2.5 MB)

9:15 - 9:30 OPEN QUESTION PERIOD

9:30 - 9:45 a.m. JoAnn Burkholder (North Carolina State University)

  • Chronic Effects of Eutrophication on Shellfish (pdf, 1.4 MB)

9:45 - 10:00 a.m. Odd Lindhal (Kristineberg Marine Biological Station, Sweden)

  • Shellfish Farming as a Tool for Remediation of Coastal Waters (pdf, 1.3 MB)

10:00 - 10:15 a.m. OPEN QUESTION PERIOD

10:15 - 10:45 a.m. BREAK

Invasives/Genetics/Disease

10:45 - 11:00 a.m. Dianna Padilla (State University of New York - Stony Brook)

  • Marine Invaders, Biodiversity & Aquaculture: Sources, Impacts & Consequences (pdf, 3.8 MB)

11:00 - 11:15 a.m. Dennis Hedgecock (University of Southern California)

  • Genetics of Shellfish, Wild and Farmed (pdf, 426 KB)

11:15 - 11:30 a.m. Roxanna Smolowitz (Director of Research, New England Aquarium)

  • Effects of Environment & Culture Techniques on Shellfish Disease Severity & Prevalence (pdf, 1.4 MB)

11:30 a.m.- 12:00 p.m. OPEN DISCUSSION WITH ENTIRE GROUP

12:00 - 12:30 p.m. Guest Speaker: U.S. Senator Jack Reed (Rhode Island)

12:30 - 1:30 p.m. LUNCH

AFTERNOON BREAKOUTS - FACILITATED DISCUSSIONS

1:30 - 2:15 p.m. Eutrophication/Carrying Capacity/Water Quality

2:15 - 3:00 p.m. Invasives/Genetics/Disease

3:00 - 3:30 p.m. Break

3:30 - 5:00 p.m. SUMMARY PRESENTATIONS AND DISCUSSION

5:00 p.m. ADJOURN

TUESDAY, JUNE 10, 2008

8:00 - 8:15 a.m. Day 2 Welcome

  • Dr. Sandra Shumway, University of Connecticut

Habitat and Gear/ Education/ Societal Interactions/ Engagement

8:15 - 8:30 a.m. Loren Coen (Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation)

  • Importance of Bivalve Molluscs: The Habitat they Generate and Associated Ecosystem Services (pdf, 4 MB)

8:30 - 8:45 a.m. Brad Harris (University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth)

  • Impacts of Shellfish Aquaculture Harvest Methods (pdf, 5.1 MB)

8:45 - 9:00 a.m. OPEN QUESTION PERIOD

9:00- 9:15 a.m. Gary Jensen (USDA-CSREES)

  • Case Studies and Perspectives: Education and Engagement in Aquaculture (pdf, 1 MB)

9:15 -9:30 a.m. Colin Brannen (World Wildlife Fund) 

  • Molluscan Dialogues Revisited (pdf, 1.1 MB)

9:30 - 9:45 a.m. George Leonard (Ocean Conservancy)

  • Shellfish Farming and the Growing Sustainable Seafood Movement (pdf, 1 MB)

9:45- 10:00 a.m. OPEN QUESTION PERIOD

10:00 - 10:30 a.m. BREAK

10:30 - 10:45 a.m. John Hargreaves (Baton Rouge, Louisiana)

  • BMPs & Environmental Management Systems in Shellfish Aquaculture (pdf, 655 KB)

10:45 - 11:00 a.m. Gary Wikfors (NOAA, Northeast Fisheries Science Center, Milford Laboratory)

  • Thoughts on the Environmental Concerns with Molluscan Shellfish Aquaculture Development (pdf, 1 MB)

11:00 - 11:15 a.m. Susan Stonich (University of California - Santa Barbara)

  • Societal Issues Associated with Shellfish Aquaculture (pdf, 312 KB)

11:15 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. OPEN DISCUSSION WITH ENTIRE GROUP

12:00 - 1:30 p.m. LUNCH

AFTERNOON BREAKOUTS - FACILITATED DISCUSSIONS

1:30 - 2:15 p.m. Gear and Harvest/ Education 

2:15 - 3:00 p.m. Societal Interactions/ Engagement

3:00 - 3:30 p.m. Break

3:30 - 5:00 p.m. SUMMARY PRESENTATIONS AND DISCUSSION

5:00 p.m. MEETING ADJOURNS

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Shellfish Symposium Discussion

Mike Rice of the University of Rhode Island facilitates a discussion at the NOAA National Shellfish Symposium [NOAA Aquaculture Program photo].

Shellfish Symposium Discussion

Bill Dewey of Taylor Shellfish facilitates a discussion at the NOAA National Shellfish Symposium [NOAA Aquaculture Program photo].

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contact

If you have questions, contact Dr. Sandy Shumway, sandra.shumway@uconn.edu, (860) 405-9282; or David O’Brien, David.OBrien@noaa.gov, (301) 713-9079.

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