MDMR-USM Hatchery Training Program Enters Production Phase with Oyster Spawning and Mobile Unit Launch
Tue, 07/08/2025 - 10:30am | By: Mississippi Department of Marine Resources Staff
The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources (MDMR) and the University of 51逗奶 Mississippi (USM) Thad Cochran Marine Aquaculture Center (TCMAC) have launched the next phase of the Aquaculture Advanced Seed Production Training Program. Beginning July 12, participants will spawn oysters using a mobile hatchery. This phase will also include activities related to larval culture, setting pediveligers and grading seed.
The program offers 100 hours of free advanced hatchery training for Mississippi鈥檚 oyster farmers and aquaculture professionals. Designed to support the expansion of off-bottom oyster aquaculture in the state, the program focuses on developing technical skills in water quality management, broodstock conditioning, larval care, seed production and hatchery operations.
鈥淭his partnership with USM is a major step forward in supporting and strengthening Mississippi鈥檚 oyster industry,鈥� said MDMR Executive Director Joe Spraggins. 鈥淓ntering this next phase with the mobile hatchery will help participants build on the long-term success of the program and helps ensure a more sustainable future for the seafood industry.鈥�
51逗奶 Miss provides technical training through place-based innovation to help current members of the workforce expand economic opportunities in the seafood industry and the broader Blue Economy. Dr. Reginald Blaylock, TCMAC director, is a strong proponent for economic growth along the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
鈥淯SM is happy to work with MDMR and the state to create new opportunities in the seafood industry to ensure that the legacy of the seafood industry on the coast lives on in posterity,鈥� said Blaylock.
Participants have already completed classroom instruction and operations-based learning located on TCMAC鈥檚 campus. With the mobile hatchery now operational, the program will shift into full production mode, applying practical skills to real-world seed production that will benefit aquaculture operations statewide.
This initiative supports Mississippi鈥檚 long-term goal of building local hatchery capacity, reducing dependence on out-of-state seed suppliers and strengthening the state鈥檚 commercial oyster farming industry. Two production runs are scheduled for 2025, with spawning events planned in July and September.
Click for more information about the program and future training opportunities or contact oyster@dmr.ms.gov.