Virginia Shellfish Aquaculture Situation and Outlook Report : Results of the 2016 Virginia Shellfish Aquaculture Crop

The hatchery-based shellfish aquaculture industry in Virginia continues to grow adding significant value to the Commonwealth's seafood marketplace. Today, watermen harvest both hard clams and oysters from the Commonwealth's public resources,albeit at rates diminished from historic levels. At the same time, Virginia's watermen-farmers, utilizing production from a land-based hatchery, are providing additional quantities of quality shellfish to consumers. This survey, in its 11th year, is intended to continue annual assessments with which to gauge growth and inputs in Virginia's hatchery-based shellfish aquaculture industry. This report is based upon an industry survey completed during the first quarter of 2017. While these trends are widely acknowledged, until this annual survey was initiated in 2006 there had been no consistent reporting of production and economic trends in Virginia's shellfish aquaculture industry. Periodic assessments are necessary to inform growers and related interests about the actual status and trends in the industry.