AQUACULTURE ADVANCED SEED
PRODUCTION TRAINING PROGRAM
The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources (MDMR) is now accepting applications for the Oyster Aquaculture Advanced Seed Production Training Program for the 2025 summer/fall season. This project will provide advanced training in hatchery operations for program graduates. It will equip experienced off-bottom oyster aquaculture (OBOA) farmers with specialized skills in high-quality oyster seed production, directly benefiting aquaculture farms across Mississippi and the Gulf of America.
The program is a free 100-hour course intended to provide oyster farmers and industry professionals in Mississippi with a foundation of knowledge specializing in hatchery operational basics and extensive larval culture and seed production.
Topics in the course will include water quality management, broodstock conditioning, spawning, larval culture and health assessment, setting of pediveligers and grading and counting seed. The classroom and coursework will be held at the University of Southern Mississippi’s Thad Cochran Marine Aquaculture Center, as well as other sites. Below is a schedule of class dates and expectations. The program will give priority in selection to participants in the Mississippi commercial seafood industry, graduation in the MDMR OBOA class, as well as potential people entering the seed production workforce.
Schedule:
Informational Session for Applicants: 4/17/2025
Classroom/Hands-on Training (4 Hours, unless otherwise stated)
- 5/3/2025: Water Quality Management, Broodstock Conditioning
- 5/17/2025: Larval Culture/Health
- 6/7/2025: Setting Pediveligers
- 6/21/2025: Grading and Counting Seed
- 7/12/2025: Spawning with Mobile Hatchery Start of Production (8 Hours)
First Mobile Hatchery Run
- 7/13/2025 – 7/26/2025: Larval Culture Training
- 7/27/2025 – 8/1/2025: Harvest and Setting of Seed
- 8/2/2025 – 8/16/2025: First Grade/Count of Seed
Second Mobile Hatchery Run
- 9/13/2025: Spawning with Mobile Hatchery Start of Production
- 9/14/2025 – 9/26/2025: Larval Culture Training
- 9/27/2025 – 10/3/2025: Harvest and Setting of Seed
- 10/4/2025 – 10/18/2024: Grade/Count of Seed
Expectations:
Participants are required to attend all classroom days, as well as work three days per week (approximately four hours per day), in the mobile hatchery during the larval runs/seed phase in order to gain hands-on experience. This will total a 72-hour minimum requirement of the two mobile hatchery runs over the course of six weeks. The specific work schedule will be determined, as a group, whether hatchery maintenance and larval culture will occur in the mornings or afternoon/evenings.
PROGRAM APPLICATION
For more information about class details, enrolling and eligibility requirements, please contact the MDMR Shellfish Bureau at oyster@dmr.ms.gov or 228-374-5000.
