About
Why Shellfish?
Revitalizing Coastal Communities and Ecosystems
Shellfish Support Livelihoods
According to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), shellfish aquaculture sales totaled $15.5 million from 111 reporting operations in 2018, with Florida ranking 3rd and 6th in the nation for clam and oyster sales, respectively (FDACS 2020).
Shellfish aquaculture is also becoming increasingly necessary to meet seafood demand following the collapse of wild fisheries, such as the Apalachicola oyster industry. Increasing shellfish production via aquaculture will not only support resilient, working waterfronts, but also preserve the cultural heritage tied to Gulf shellfish for generations to come.
A farmer tends to his oyster lease in North Florida. Oysters not only support livelihoods, but also connect Floridians to the rich cultural heritage of the Gulf coast, extending back centuries.
Shellfish Clean
Our Waters
Bivalve shellfish, like clams, oysters, and scallops, filter our waters by consuming microscopic algae and capturing suspended solids in seawater. Removing phytoplankton and particulates improves water clarity and transfers nutrients from the water column to sediments below. A single 2 inch clam can filter an estimated 4.5 gallons of water per day (UF/IFAS 2015). The video provided by UF/IFAS Shellfish Extension (see: right) demonstrates the cleaning power of clams, with approximately 8 gallons of seawater filtered in little over an hour. Florida clam growers have densities of ~2 million clams per acre on their leases— that’s a lot of filtration!
“Littleneck” clams can filter an impressive amount of water and therefore improve local water clarity.
Shellfish Support Coastal Ecosystems
Oysters and mussels uniquely aggregate to form complex "reefs," which support diverse communities of crustaceans, mollusks, fishes, and migratory wading birds (Grabowski et al. 2012, Vitale et al. 2021). Commercially and recreationally significant fish species such as the red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) often frequent our local reefs.
Seagrass beds— foundational to Florida’s coastal ecosystems— are also well-supported by shellfish. Clams, mussels, oysters, and scallops benefit seagrass by transferring nutrients to the seafloor and increasing local water clarity. The northern hard clam (Mercenaria mercenaria) has been shown to speed the recovery of seagrass following simulated disturbance (Donaher et al. 2021) and to increase seagrass productivity with bivalve co-plantings (Peterson & Heck 2001, Wall et al. 2008, Carroll et al. 2008).
An American oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus) lands on an oyster reef to feed. Now listed as a state-threatened species, these oystercatchers require shell bars, sandy shoals, and barrier islands with little vegetation to roost and successfully fledge young.
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