The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources is Accepting Applications for 2026 Oyster Aquaculture Advanced Seed Production Training Program

BILOXI, Miss. – The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources is now accepting applications for the Aquaculture Advanced Seed Production Training Program for the 2026 spring/summer season. This project will provide advanced training in hatchery operations for program graduates. It will equip experienced off-bottom oyster aquaculture (OBOA) farmers with specialized skills in high-quality oyster seed production, directly benefiting aquaculture farms across Mississippi and the Gulf of America. 

The program is a free 100-hour course intended to provide MDMR OBOA Program graduates, industry participants and local university graduates in Mississippi with a foundation of knowledge specializing in skills hatchery operational basics and extensive larval culture and seed production.

Topics in the course will include water quality management, broodstock conditioning, spawning, larval culture and health assessment, setting of pediveligers and grading and counting seed. The classroom and coursework will be held at the University of Southern Mississippi’s Thad Cochran Marine Aquaculture Center (TCMAC), as well as other sites.

Below is a schedule of class dates and expectations. The program will give priority in selection to participants in the Mississippi commercial seafood industry, graduation in the MDMR OBOA class, as well as potential people entering the seed production workforce.

Schedule: 

• Informational Session for Applicants: 2/24/2026
• Classroom/Hands-on Training (4 Hours, unless otherwise stated)
  • 3/14/2026: Water Quality Management, Broodstock Conditioning
  • 3/28/2026: Larval Culture/Health
  • 4/11/2026: Setting Pediveligers
  • 4/25/2026: Hatchery Mathematics, Small scale algae culture 
  • 5/2/2026: Grading and Counting Seed
  • 5/9/2026: Spawning with Mobile Hatchery Start of Production (8 Hours)
• First Mobile Hatchery Run
  • 5/1/2026-5/9/2026: Algae Production
  • 5/9/2026: Spawn Day
  • 5/9/2026-6/5/2026: Larval Culture Training 
  • 6/5/2026: Seed Distribution, Run 1 of 2 Complete
• Second Mobile Hatchery Run
  • 6/19/2026-6/27/2026: Algae Production
  • 6/27/2026: Spawn Day
  • 6/27/2026-7/20/2026: Larval Culture Training 
  • 7/20/2026: Seed Distribution, Class Complete, Graduation

Expectations:

Participants are required to attend all classroom days as well as work three days per week (approximately four – six hours per day) in the mobile hatchery during the larval runs/seed phase in order to gain hands-on experience. This will total an 80-hour minimum requirement of the two mobile hatchery runs over the course of eight weeks.  The specific work schedule will be determined, as a group, whether hatchery maintenance and larval culture will occur in the mornings or afternoon/evenings.   

Interested participants must meet and/or complete the following items to enroll:

• Applications available from February 13 – March 6
• Complete and submit application by 11:59 p.m. on March 6, 2026
• Be a full-time Mississippi resident with the ability to attend all training
• At least 18 years of age or older by April 1, 2026
• Possess a valid Mississippi driver’s license
• Must be present at the “Required Informational Session” on February 24, at 5:30 p.m. at the University of Southern Mississippi, TCMAC Campus, located at 703 East Beach Drive in Ocean Springs

For more information about enrolling and eligibility requirements, please contact the MDMR Shellfish Bureau at oyster@dmr.ms.gov or 228-374-5000.

The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources is dedicated to enhancing, protecting and conserving marine interests of the state by managing all marine life, public trust wetlands, adjacent uplands and waterfront areas to provide for the optimal commercial, recreational, educational and economic uses of these resources consistent with environmental concerns and social changes. Visit the DMR online at dmr.ms.gov.