Louisiana Alternative Oyster Culture (AOC) Industry
AOC is when oysters are grown in floating cages or in bottom-placed cages attached to pylons. This method allows the cages to be raised and lowered to protect oysters from predators, fouling and the burial effects of disasters like hurricanes. Louisiana Sea Grant has operated an AOC demonstration farm on Grand Isle for more than a decade and began researching alternative oyster culture in the late 1980s.
As estuarine habitat and environmental conditions continue to change through natural and human influences, there is a need to offer and expand economic opportunities for oyster fishers—and AOC helps to fulfill that need. To that end, Louisiana Fisheries Forward, in conjunction with the Louisiana Seafood Future grant program, is putting together a wide variety of resources like education and business tools, equipment and public outreach, to expand and enhance AOC across the coast.
We encourage all our oystermen to get involved in the management of our fishery. Join the Oyster Task Force, or attend their open meetings; sign up for news and alerts from LDWF, LA Sea Grant and other agencies; and attend LFF and other industry workshops. Your input is needed for us all to be successful.
As we continue to add information to this web site, visit the resource links below for more on regulations, product handling, gear and equipment, and responsible farming practices.
To apply for an AOC permit, you must have a commercial oyster harvester license. And before applying for an oyster harvester license, you must complete online oyster harvester training, which will include this video (use the link, you will not get credit watching it here). Oyster harvesters must take this training every three years.
Live Demo on Remote Setting Oyster Larvae
Remote Setting Oyster Larvae Video
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How To Fill Out 900 Series Trip Ticket
There are complex environmental, economic, and political issues confronting today’s traditional oyster industry. AOC is a part of addressing those issues, but certainly not the sole or primary solution.
Louisiana’s traditional oyster production can average from 12-14 million pounds of oyster meat annually, producing anywhere from 30-40 percent of the United States’ supply. AOC cannot replace this traditional natural fishery in volume or economic impact; but it is an opportunity to help increase the potential for industry diversity.
Reminder Upcoming Oyster Season Openings for the 2023-2024 Public Oyster Season
November 8, 2023The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) would like to remind oyster harvesters that the following areas will open for sacking only (larger than 3 inches) on Monday, November 13, 2023: Bay Gardene Public Oyster Seed Reservation, Vermilion/East, West Cote Blanche Bay/Atchafalaya Bay Public Oyster Seed Grounds, including all areas…
The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries eReporting app for the 2023-2024 Public Oyster Season is Live
October 6, 2023eReporting is a mobile application developed by Shellcatch for the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries that allows those individuals harvesting oysters from the Public Oyster Areas and Seed Grounds for oyster resource to report what was harvested for a given date. This application allows users to report harvest information…
The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission Sets the 2023-2024 Oyster Season
September 7, 2023The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission set the 2023-2024 oyster season based on the annual oyster stock assessment provided by Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries biologists and comments received from members of the public, including the oyster industry. The following dates were set for the upcoming oyster season: The…
