Spanish-Language Version Launched for Oyster Farming Training Program Offered by Oyster Resource and Recovery Center (ORRC)
As oyster farming continues to grow in Texas, there will be a need for a trained workforce, including one that is multi-lingual.
The Oyster Resource and Recovery Center (ORRC) at the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi is continuing to lead the way in helping to train future oyster farmers for the Texas coast. On October 10, ORRC launched a Spanish-language version of the program’s workforce development initiative, continuing ORRC’s commitment to expand oyster farming along Texas’ coast and help supply the workforce needed.
The self-paced program is designed to be accessible, and the courses contribute to an industry that will aim to support sustainable year-round oyster production in coastal states. Adding a Spanish-language version will help to expand the program to potential new farmers.
The program includes three courses: Oyster Hatchery, Oyster Farming, and Business Development.
“When the program was launched in July it helped to kickstart the oyster farming industry in Texas,” said Ellis Chapman, ORRC Program Manager. “With a Spanish-language version, we can continue our goal of growing the industry in Texas to producing sustainable oysters without harming delicate bottom habitat, which ultimately benefits the ecosystem and economy in Texas’ coastal regions.”
Texas became the last coastal state in the United States in 2019 to allow oyster farming, and the first permits were issued in 2021. Texas’s oyster fisheries have been in decline due to harvest pressure, environmental stressors and disease. The online program is the first of its kind in the state and was made in consultation with key industry stakeholders.
Oysters are a major economic driver for Texas’ coastal communities, plus they offer valuable habitat for sportfish, remove nitrogen and carbon from coastal waters, and help stabilize shorelines. Due to multiple factors in recent years, including hurricanes, pollution, and rainfall amounts, Texas’ oyster fishery yields have been unpredictable.
Other services offered by the ORRC include paid work experience opportunities on an oyster farm or in an oyster hatchery for a limited number of individuals upon completion of the online courses and bi-annual oyster farming education workshops. The website also features an interactive map showing locations of current Texas oyster farms as well as Texas restaurants that serve fresh Texas-farmed oysters.