Oyster Broodstock Collection and Hatchery-based Production for Future Reef Restoration in Nueces Bay

By collecting and spawning oyster broodstock, this project aims to enhance future restoration efforts, especially in areas with limited natural larval supply. The spawning of oysters for future restoration use will help establish resilient oyster populations, contributing to local biodiversity and ecosystem stability.

This collaboration between the Harte Research Institute (HRI) and Texas A&M AgriLife Mariculture Research Facility (TAMAR) brings together expertise in field collection, genetics, aquaculture, and oyster breeding. Dr. Jennifer Pollack’s team at HRI will lead planning and collection efforts, drawing on their extensive experience in oyster reef restoration, while Dr. Chris Hollenbeck’s group at TAMAR will focus on conditioning for future breeding efforts to produce oysters for reef propagation and potential remote setting applications. Together, these teams aim to address challenges in sustaining oyster populations along the Texas coast.