The Chesapeake Oyster Science Symposium converges the fields of oyster research, restoration, and aquaculture in the Chesapeake Bay region to promote the widespread recovery of the Bay's oyster population. The program is designed for all oyster practitioners and those considering entering the fields of oyster restoration, aquaculture, or research. We welcome under- and post- graduate students, non-profit and governmental staff, oyster growers, watermen, business owners and the many others invested in the recovery of the Chesapeake Bay oyster.
The Chesapeake Oyster Science Symposium unites the fields of oyster restoration, aquaculture, and science to explore the potential for accelerating and maximizing the ecological and economic gains obtainable in each area. The Symposium is presented by the many partners of the Chesapeake Oyster Alliance with support from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. Questions can be directed to Tanner Council.
Past Events
Links to replays of the introduction and various panels are available below and on the Chesapeake Bay Foundation's YouTube channel's COSS playlists:
2024
The Chesapeake Oyster Alliance assembled an all-star lineup of oyster experts, academic faculty, and industry practitioners for its 2024 Chesapeake Oyster Science Symposium, held Thursday, October 3rd on Zoom, broadcast from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation's Brock Environmental Center in Virginia Beach, VA.
The Symposium focused on emerging science and innovative approaches to advance the oyster population of Chesapeake Bay. Topics included:
- Emerging Technology and Techniques in Aquaculture and Restoration
- Optimizing Oyster Restoration and Aquaculture Yields
- Advances in Oyster Monitoring
- Gaps and Future Needs in Oyster Research
- Lightning Round of Current Oyster Graduate Studies
- The Future of Oyster Restoration, Aquaculture, and Research in the Bay
Materials
2023
The 2023 Chesapeake Oyster Science Symposium convened oyster researchers, restoration experts, growers, early career professionals, graduate students, watermen and more to explore emerging science and innovative approaches to advance the oyster population of the Chesapeake Bay. This was a two-day event held at the Hyatt Chesapeake in Cambridge, MD for Chesapeake Oyster Alliance partners and associates, including field experiences on Day 1 and the Symposium itself on Day 2, which was broadcast live on Zoom.
Materials
Day One Photos
Introduction
Introduction by Tanner Council, Chesapeake Oyster Alliance Senior Manager, Chesapeake Bay Foundation
Panels
Panel 1: Gaining Ground — Increasing Returns in Restoration and Aquaculture
Panel speakers included: Mike Congrove, Owner/Operator, Oyster Seed Holdings; Olivia Caretti, Coastal Restoration Program Manager, Oyster Recovery Partnership; Allison Colden, Maryland Executive Director, Chesapeake Bay Foundation; and was moderated by Matt Pluta, Choptank Riverkeeper and Director of Riverkeeping Programs, ShoreRivers.
Panel 2: Understanding Our Impact — New Developments in Monitoring
Panel speakers included: Emma Green, Executive Director, St. Mary's River Watershed Association; Leonard Nelson, CEO, Natrx; Matt Gray, Assistant Professor, Horn Point Laboratory; and was moderated by Ben Fertig, Restoration Manager, Severn River Association.
Panel 3: Briny New World — Incredible Advances in Oyster Tech
Panel speakers included: Steve Pattinson, Business Management, Solar Oysters; Stephanie Westby, Oyster Restoration Program Director, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA); Don Webster, Regional Extension Specialist, University of Maryland; and was moderated by Scott Budden, Founder and Working Partner, Orchard Point Oysters.
Panel 4: Beyond the Horizon — Forecasts Across Our Oyster Sectors.
Panel speakers included: Ben Ford, Miles-Wye Riverkeeper, ShoreRivers; Chris Moore, Senior Regional Ecosystem Scientist, Chesapeake Bay Foundation; James Tweed, Farm Manager, Hollywood Oyster Company; Jordan Shockley, CEO, Blue Oyster Environmental; Bill Walton, Acuff Professor of Marine Science and Shellfish Aquaculture Program Coordinator, Virginia Institute of Marine Science; and was moderated by Tanner Council, Senior Manager of Chesapeake Oyster Alliance, Chesapeake Oyster Alliance/Chesapeake Bay Foundation.
Lightning Round: Rapid-fire Presentations by Emerging Scientists
Speakers included: Sierra Hildebrant, PhD Candidate, Old Dominion University; Matthew LaGanke, PhD Candidate, Virginia Institute of Marine Science; Charlye Levine, Undergraduate student, University of Alaska Fairbanks; Muhammad Sulymr, Student, Morgan State University Patuxent Environmental and Aquatic Research Laboratory (PEARL); Alan Williams, Undergraduate student, UMD Center for Environmental Science, Horn Point Lab. Moderator by Alexus Stelfox, Intern, Chesapeake Oyster Alliance.
2022
The Chesapeake Oyster Alliance assembled an all-star lineup of oyster experts, academic faculty, and industry practitioners for its 2022 Chesapeake Oyster Science Symposium, held Thursday, September 29th on Zoom, broadcast from the beautiful Tides Inn in Irvington, VA, a generous host and valued COA Partner.
Four panel discussions featuring over 20 speakers offered succinct presentations and ample Q&A around each topic. The Symposium also featured a round of lightning-talks by young scientists and early career professionals.
Materials
Introduction
Introduction by Tanner Council, Chesapeake Oyster Alliance Senior Manager, Chesapeake Bay Foundation
Panels
Panel 1: The Abundant Oyster — Increasing Our Yields
Panel speakers included: Bill Walton, Acuff Professor of Marine Science and Shellfish Aquaculture Program Coordinator, Virginia Institute of Marine Science; Rom Lipcius, Professor, Virginia Institute of Marine Science; Ming Liu, Oyster Genomics Researcher, Morgan State University Patuxent Environmental and Aquatic Research Laboratory (PEARL); and was moderated by Steve Pattison, Business Management, Solar Oysters.
Panel 2: Knowing Our Oysters — Advancements in Monitoring
Panel speakers included: Matt Ogburn, Principal Investigator, Senior Scientist, Smithsonian Environmental Research Center; Willy Reay, Professor; Director of the Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Preserve in Virginia, Virginia Institute of Marine Science; Olivia Caretti, Oyster Restoration Program Director, Oyster Recovery Partnership; and was moderated by Scott Budden, Founder and Working Partner, Orchard Point Oysters.
Panel 3: Converging Currents, Cooperation Across Sectors
Panel speakers included: Zach Greenberg, Officer, Environment, PEW Charitable Trusts; Erin Shields, Lead Marine Scientist, Virginia Institute of Marine Science; Andrew Button, Deputy Chief of Shellfish Management and Head of Conservation and Replenishment, Virginia Marine Resources Commission; and was moderated by Bryan Hoffman, Deputy Director, Friends of the Rappahannock.
Panel 4: Oysters Unlimited — Visions of the Future
Panel speakers included: Brent Huntsinger, Tidal Programs Manager, Friends of the Rappahannock; Ward Slacum, Executive Director, Oyster Recovery Partnership; Tommy Kellum, Owner/Operator, Kellum Seafood; and was moderated by Allison Colden, Maryland Senior Fisheries Scientist, Chesapeake Bay Foundation.
Lightning Round: Rapid-fire Presentations by Emerging Scientists
Speakers included: Amanda Bevans, Student, Morgan State University Environmental and Aquatic Research Laboratory (PEARL); Julianne Green, Student, Virginia Institute of Marine Science; Christina Rarick, Student, Virginia Institute of Marine Science; Darryl Acker-Carter, Student, Virginia Institute of Marine Science; Jessica Diaz, Student, University of Maryland - Baltimore County; Elizabeth Weatheru, Student Virginia Institute of Marine Science. Moderator: Cecilia Monahan, Intern, Chesapeake Bay Foundation.
2021
The inaugural Chesapeake Oyster Science Symposium held on June 3, 2021 was a virtual gathering of 319 early career professionals, graduate students, researchers, restoration experts, and aquaculturalists from eight countries. The Symposium focused on emerging science and innovative approaches to advance the oyster population of Chesapeake Bay.
The Symposium featured more than 20 speakers across several panels structured around the following themes, a space for graduate students to share their work with the audience, as well as a casual happy hour for networking and camaraderie.
Materials
Introduction
Introduction by Tanner Council, Chesapeake Oyster Alliance Senior Manager, Chesapeake Bay Foundation
Panels
Panel 1: The Return of the Bay Oyster—Challenges and Opportunities
A discussion of opportunities for growth in the world of Chesapeake Bay oyster restoration and aquaculture.
Speakers for this panel included Bruce Vogt (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [NOAA]), Stephanie Westby (NOAA), Karen Hudson (Virginia Institute of Marine Science), Ward Slacum (Oyster Recovery Partnership), Joe Rieger (Elizabeth River Project).
Panel 2: Leveraging Oyster Ecosystem Services to Accelerate Oyster Recovery
This panel examined the many co-benefits of oyster reefs, including living breakwaters and coastal resilience. Panelists also discussed oyster aquaculture water quality research and nitrogen removal.
Speakers for this panel included Allison Colden (Chesapeake Bay Foundation), Scott Knoche, (Morgan State University/PEARL), Matt Gray (University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science), Lisa Kellogg (Virginia Institute of Marine Science), and Jeff Cornwell (University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science).
Panel 3: Emerging Technologies in Aquaculture and Restoration
New and emerging technologies can improve efficiency and increase success in oyster aquaculture and restoration. Presentations in the panel included solar powered floating aquaculture technology, monitoring reefs using video, sonar, and acoustic equipment, and more.
Speakers for this panel included Jay Lazar (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), Brad King (Marine Science Foundation), Steve Pattison (Solar Oysters), Martin Kepinski-Kozaczek (Northrop Grumman), Allison Tracy (Smithsonian Environmental Research Center).
Panel 4: Synthesis Discussion: The Future of Oysters in Chesapeake Bay
Join Andrew Lacatell (The Nature Conservancy), Zachary Greenberg (Pew Charitable Trusts), Andrew Button (Virginia Marine Resources Commission), Angela Sowers (US Army Corps of Engineers), Chris Moore (Chesapeake Bay Foundation), Sean Corson (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), and Imani Black (Minorities in Agriculture) as they discuss the future of oyster recovery in Chesapeake Bay.
Lightning Talks
We also hosted a series of lightning talks from a wide range of researchers to further showcase the veritable cornucopia of exciting work being done in the world of oyster restoration and aquaculture. Moderated by Sierra Hildebrandt, (Hampton University).