The Oyster Aquaculture Training (OAT) program is offered by the Aquaculture Genetics and Breeding Technology Center (ABC) at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) in Gloucester Point, Virginia. It is a 4-5 month, paid, hands-on internship, focusing on various principles of oyster aquaculture from the hatchery to the field. Participants are selected from a pool of applicants based somewhat on past relevant education and work experience, but moreso based on a clearly demonstrated desire to have a career in shellfish aquaculture. OATs learn and work alongside researchers during ABCs oyster hatchery and spring/summer field season from roughly March to July. To ensure a one-on-one experience, we accept a maximum of two trainees each year.
During the OAT program, trainees rotate through various stages of oyster aquaculture, including hatchery, nursery, field grow-out operations and laboratory. Participants learn the process of conditioning, spawning, larval husbandry and setting. They are exposed to algae culture techniques and gain an understanding of broodstock and larval algae requirements. They learn how to monitor water quality and various processes of seawater filtration and pumping. OATs are exposed to upwelling systems, including bottle systems, and they learn to build and maintain numerous types of field gear deployed across five farm sites. In the ABC laboratory, participants learn how ploidy analysis is performed as well as some basic disease diagnostic procedures.
In addition to hands-on experience, regular lectures are conducted by VIMS staff and faculty to provide participants with background information pertinent to shellfish aquaculture. These lectures include oyster biology, shellfish diseases, principles of genetics and breeding and site selection considerations, as examples. Field trips are taken to multiple research and commercial hatcheries, along with visits to commercial farms in order to expose participants to different farming methods and aspects of oyster aquaculture, particularly aquaculture operations at a commercial scale. There is an opportunity for participants to go on 2-3 day externships to industry facilities, based on their particular interests. By the end of the program, participants have a clear understanding of various areas of oyster aquaculture and should be confident in their ability to perform tasks in oyster hatchery, nursery and field operations.