The shellfish research laboratory (SRL) at the University of Georgia Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant was established in 1985 with the mission to develop clam aquaculture in coastal Geogia. To complement the creation of a shellfish hatchery at SRL, that was established in 2015 to support development of commercial oyster aquaculture, a two-acre shellfish training and research site in the Skidaway River was proposed in 2019. Characteristics of the proposed site include semi-diurnal tides (~3m), a site footprint spanning intertidal and sub-tidal zones at a depth range of 0.0 – 1.0m at MLLW, firm sandy-soft mud bottom, water temperature range of 10-34°C, and salinity range of 14-24 PSU. Site gear capacity includes space for 50 floating cages, 100 FlipFarm baskets, 25 bottom cages, and 100 soft 1.2m x 1.2m clam bags.
Though the proposed site was permitted for temporary use to provide hands-on experience using conventional oyster and clam farming gear to participants in an eight-week aquaculture course during 2023, it has not attained its full potential due to delays in permit review for permanent use. State permits approving use of the site have been issued to the SRL by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. However, due to the proximity of the training site to the intracoastal waterway (ICW) federal permits are still in review with the Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) with an anticipated issuance date of 2025. The training site is ideally located for educational purposes since it is highly visible from land and sea via a fixed dock on the Jay Wolf Nature Trail located on the University of Georgia Skidway Island Campus that overlooks the site.