Measuring Shell Proteins to Understand Oyster Growth Potential and Improve Site Selection for Oyster Farms in Texas

Oyster aquaculture is an essential pathway for overcoming the decline of natural populations and providing a sustainable supply of high-quality seafood to meet growing demand. Oyster farming is new in Texas and is expected to grow rapidly in years to come; developing scientific tools to support farming practices can help ensure a healthy and profitable industry.

This project uses an innovative approach to determine suitable conditions for oyster growth to support the developing oyster aquaculture industry in Texas. Measuring shell protein from different locations can elucidate spatial differences in growth conditions, and measuring protein accumulation across the sequential growth layers can highlight temporal differences (e.g. during storms, freezes, droughts). Connecting these results to dry meat weights and oyster growth rates will provide parameters of the highest practical use to farmers.

Project objectives are to:

1. Measure the total amount of protein, as total hydrolyzable amino acids, in shells of oysters collected from oyster farms coastwide and across the Mission-Aransas Estuary,
2. Create a time series of protein accumulation across the growth layers of shells, and
3. Connect the shell protein contents with the dry meat and shell weight of oysters.