Louisiana Oyster Industry Convention returns to Grand Isle

The Louisiana Oyster Industry Convention is scheduled from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 22, at the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Laboratory and the Louisiana Sea Grant Oyster Research Laboratory on Grand Isle. The day-long meeting is the annual forum to bring the Louisiana oyster community together to discuss important issues, to make business contacts and to socialize. The event is also part of the grand opening of the state’s new oyster hatchery.

This year’s agenda focuses on hatchery-based oyster production in the Gulf of Mexico region as an alternative to using wild oyster seed for both traditional on-bottom and off-bottom production. Updates on regional oyster farming will be presented. A tour of the new hatchery and outdoor demonstrations, including small-vessel retrofitting for cage culture, will be offered in the afternoon.

Oysters will be featured during the luncheon and reception, including oyster bordelaise (spaghetti), marinated oysters, and locally grown cage-cultured half-shell oysters. The pre-registration deadline is Aug. 15, and the fee is $25, which covers all seminars, lunch and the reception. Registration is $50 at the door.

The convention is sponsored by J & M Industries & Berry Plastics, the Louisiana Sea Grant College Program, the Oyster Development Fund of the Louisiana Oyster Task Force, Louisiana Farm Bureau, the Louisiana Oyster Dealers & Growers Association, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, and the LSU Agricultural Center.

For more information, contact John Supan at (985) 264-3239 or [email protected]. Oystermen are invited to arrive by boat.  Docking space will be provided; contact Supan for details. Hotel information is available through the Grand Isle Tourism Commission, (985) 787-2997 or www.townofgrandisle.com/lodging/.