ABOUT THE INDUSTRY
The shellfish industry benefits all of us. It even helps the environment!
The shellfish culture industry of Virginia provides a significant economic benefit to the Commonwealth, with an annual farm-gate value approaching $60-million and a total impact over $100-million. With a majority of shellfish culture sales occurring outside the state, the shellfish culture industry is generating “new” money and not just circulating in-state revenues. The shellfish culture industry is proud of our contributions to the economy of the Commonwealth, but is equally proud of our environmental benefits as well. Shellfish culture is truly a “green” industry, with our crops continually helping to clean the Chesapeake Bay by removing excess nutrients and providing habitat for other species.
• 195,400,000 market-size cultured clams sold in 2016; farm gate value almost $38,100,000.
• 40,200,000 individual market-size cultured oysters sold in 2016; farm gate value $16,500,000. Spat-on-shell production exceeded 42,600 bushels, for another $2,000,000 in farm gate value.
• Virginia shellfish hatcheries sold 2,900,000,000 oyster larvae for extensive spat-on-shell production and over 264,000,000 individual oyster seed.
• Shellfish aquaculture employs hundreds of full and part time workers.
• Cultured shellfish improve the environment by providing habitat for other species and removing nutrients from the water by incorporating them into their shells and tissue.
Shellfish Growers of Virginia is a trade association incorporated within Virginia. Our mission is to conduct activities necessary for the advancement, expansion and well-being of the shellfish aquaculture industry of Virginia. To accomplish our mission, we have several objectives:
1. To advocate just and proper laws and regulations that impact shellfish aquaculture.
2. To promote public education of the shellfish aquaculture industry.
3. To provide a medium of exchange of experiences and discussions of industry problems.
4. To promote and develop cooperation and friendly relationships among our members.