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Publication Open Access Assessing the effectiveness of sound technology at deterring birds from floating oyster aquaculture gear in open water(2025-09-24)At Cherrystone Aqua-Farms, we have issues with birds, specifically terns, pelicans, gulls, and cormorants, on our open water floating oyster aquaculture farms during the Spring and Fall migrations. Due to federal laws, the Virginia Marine Resources Commission requires every lease holder to have an operational plan with instituted mitigation measures (visual, physical, audible, or other), but there is no clear guidance or scientific research pointing to which technology is the most effective. Therefore, this project aimed to test the effectiveness of Guardian Technologies Acoustic Deterrence Technology system at deterring birds from open water floating aquaculture. Results indicate that deploying the sound system via boat is a convenient and safe method in our location (Cherrystone Creek), the sound system effectively deterred birds in close proximities (0-40 m), complex wind dynamics (speed, direction, waves absorbing sound) greatly impact the effectiveness of this deterrent method, wind direction significantly impacts roosting location, with birds preferring to roost downwind of the sound, and bird presence was higher at low to moderate wind speeds.Publication Open Access Early Season Survival of Oyster Seed During Winter Holding(2025-04-21)This project aimed to better understand the physiological stress experienced by the oysters during the Cold Holding Duration (CHD) and warm-up phases that contribute to the observed mortality and stunting. Based on the results of these investigations, our next step will be to adjust CHD systems, protocols, and husbandry practices to address these physiological issues so that we can significantly improve the robustness of seed. This project revealed that the CHD did not affect the size and metabolism of oyster seed in predictable ways. If the length of CHD was a driver of seed mortality and poor performance, we would have expected to see correlations between CHD and both oxygen consumption and total protein content. Instead, CHD did not affect final oxygen consumption rate amongst cohorts by the end of cold holding, and total protein content at the end of holding did not correlate with CHD.Publication Open Access Anchored Drift Gill Net(2024)Spanish mackerel are becoming more abundance in the Bay but present commercial gears have not seen substantial increases in harvest. We proposed to use gill net nets of length longer than permitted under regulation (Chapter 4VAC 20-1990-10 et seq.). It is believed fast swimming pelagic species such as Spanish Mackerel and bluefish can avoid nets of this length due to vibrations and sound from the vessel engine and propeller during deployment. By setting individual drift gill nets of lengths up to 6,000 ft, it is believed this problem will dissipate with distance from the vessel. The purpose of this project is to determine if a longer drift gill net fished primarily at night will be more effective at catching Spanish Mackerel and bluefish while reducing potential bycatch/dead discards and impacts with other marine traffic during fishing operations. The gear will remain attached to the vessel at all times. Fishing at night may reduce conflicts with other fishing activities (both recreational and commercial) given less boating traffic occurs after nightfall.Publication Open Access Making genetic resources easily accessible for the hard clam (Mercenaria mercenaria) aquaculture industry in Virginia(2025-04-18)This project developed the genetic resources necessary to assess the genetic health (diversity and inbreeding) for hard clam broodstocks. Until this project, no such resources existed, and genetic assessments were nearly impossible for companies to conduct independently. First, we worked with experts at VIMS and specialists at a contract service organization (Center for Aquaculture Technologies in San Diego, CA) to develop an affordable low-density genotyping tool that can be used to address questions regarding genetic diversity and inbreeding. Second, willing industry members in Virginia used the newly developed genotyping tool to assess the genetic health of their proprietary broodstock lines.Publication Open Access Controlling Epibiont Pests(2025-09-05)This project is the second phase of understanding stalked ciliates on their impact on bivalves. The first phase (FRG-2022-07) identified the types of stalked ciliates as primarily Suctorian spp. In the second phase, we wanted to explore methods of mitigation to determine if there is a more effective treatment for ridding these infestations and also determine how oyster seed of varying sizes respond to treatments. While it is evident that we cannot completely eradicate stalked ciliate infestations from our systems, our focus should shift to effective mitigation strategies and regular monitoring to catch infestations early.