Panelists• Mike Congrove, Hatchery Manager, Oyster Seed Holdings, Gwynn, VA• Ian Jefferds, Owner, Penn Cove Shellfish, Coupeville, WA• Charlie Phillips, Owner, Sapelo Sea Farms, Townsend, GA• Dr. Meredith White, Research & Development, Mook Sea Farm, Walpole, ME• Dr. Dwight Gledhill, NOAA Ocean Acidification Program
Ocean Conservancy (OC) is interested in furthering the dialogue surrounding ocean and coastal acidification among shellfish industry representatives. We are bringing four shellfish growers and hatchery managers from different corners of the country to the Northern Gulf of Mexico to discuss their experiences with this water chemistry change along with other environmental changes. This meeting will provide an opportunity for an exchange of knowledge between growers, scientists, and other stakeholders from the region on mass shellfish mortality events and its impacts on the sea. Ocean acidification would provide the main case study to share, but other challenges will be discussed, such as concerns over shellfish diseases, salinity changes and warming waters. Discussion will also focus on sharing ways in which business operations have addressed and adapted to these problems. In addition, we are collaborating with the Gulf Coastal Acidification Network (GCAN) to provide the latest science on the changing chemistry of the Gulf of Mexico.
