Join the Maryland Shellfish Growers Network and our partners for a day of information sharing, networking, and discussion on the most pressing topics affecting Maryland's shellfish aquaculture industry. Industry experts, scientists, and managers will discuss recent regulatory developments, opportunities to grow production and marketing of Maryland oysters, and growers' vision for the future of the industry.
Registration for the Maryland Shellfish Aquaculture Conference is $35. Please register online before February 5, 2019. Registration for members of the Maryland Shellfish Growers Network is free. If you are a Network member and have not received your link to member registration, please contact Allison Colden at acolden@cbf.org or 410-268-8816.
The full conference agenda is below and is subject to change. Session descriptions follow. Speakers for each session will be added as they are finalized, so check back often for updates.
CONFERENCE PROGRAM
| 8:00 a.m. | Registration Opens Continental breakfast provided during registration |
| 8:45 a.m. | Welcome and Opening Remarks |
| 9:00 a.m. | Regulatory Developments |
| 10:00 a.m. | Break (refreshments provided) |
| 10:30 a.m. | Marketing and Market Preferences |
| 11:30 a.m. | Lunch (provided with full registration) |
| 1:00 p.m. | Hatchery Lines and Capacity |
| 2:00 p.m. | Advancing Aquaculture through Partnerships |
| 2:45 p.m. | Break (refreshments provided) |
| 3:15 p.m. | Producers Panel: What have we learned and what’s next? |
| 4:15 p.m. | Concluding Remarks and Q&A |
| 4:30 p.m. | Adjourn |
SESSION DESCRIPTIONS
Regulations and policies that govern the aquaculture industry at the state and federal level are constantly changing. Panelists will provide the latest updates on regulatory developments relevant to shellfish aquaculture that all growers should know.
Marketing and Market Preferences
A successful and profitable business relies on knowing your customer. Whether selling to distributor or marketing directly to chefs and restaurants, preferences are constantly evolving. Hear the latest on trends in market preferences and the latest research on producing a custom oyster for any market.
The sustained success and continued growth of Maryland’s aquaculture industry is closely tied to the availability of high-quality, hatchery-reared larvae. As the industry grows, demands on existing hatchery capacity will increase. Where are there opportunities to enhance hatchery capacity and improve the quality of hatchery products to serve Maryland’s aquaculture industry?
Advancing Aquaculture through Partnerships
More and more, outside organizations are recognizing the value of the shellfish aquaculture industry to broader ecological, economic, and societal goals. Where do the objectives of the industry coincide with the missions of external groups and where are the synergies for partnerships that advance the aquaculture industry?
Producers’ Panel: A Vision for the Future of Maryland Aquaculture
Reflecting on the past 10 years since the overhaul of Maryland’s aquaculture laws, what lessons have we learned and where is the industry headed next? What are the impediments to the continued growth and success of the industry? Where are there opportunities to be seized? Industry panelists discuss important next steps for Maryland aquaculture.
