Gulfcast: Dispatches From The Gulf

Scott Rikard manages the hatchery at Auburn University’s Shellfish Laboratory, which produces millions of oysters every year. Scott and his team cultivate oysters for a variety of purposes — some for research and others for aquaculture farms and wild reefs in the Gulf of Mexico. Their research examines the effects of freshwater releases on oyster populations. The ultimate goal is to help the ecosystem recover, which in turn assists the seafood industry. NOTE: Science is continually evolving. To see the latest research updates on this topic, please visit the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) web site at gulfresearchinitiative.org.