2025 Conference for Shellfish Growers
February 10 - February 11
Washington Sea Grant invites you to register for the 2025 Conference for Shellfish Growers.
First convened by WSG in 1991, the Conference for Shellfish Growers brings together shellfish producers, researchers, students and managers from the Pacific Northwest to discuss pressing issues and relevant research on aquaculture. We look forward to another engaging and insightful conference this year.
When: February 10-11, 2025
Where: Alderbrook Resort & Spa
10 E Alderbrook Dr, Union WA 98592
Registration Fee: $200
Walk-ins will not be accepted.
Registration Deadline: January 27, 2025
Fee includes admittance to all sessions, lunch on day one, reception, and breakfast on day two. Cancellations will be accepted up to seven days prior to the conference. A refund, minus a handling fee of $50.00 USD will be made. You may transfer your registration to another individual. Individuals who do not show for the conference will forfeit their registration fee.
A block of rooms has been reserved at the Alderbrook Resort & Spa for Sunday, February 9 and Monday, February 10.The special rate of $159.00 USD (plus tax) per night for single occupancy is being offered to participants who register for hotel reservations by January 27, 2025 or until the room block is filled. Please call the hotel directly, at 360-898-2145 and let them know you are attending an event of the “University of Washington Sea Grant Program” to ensure the special room rate.
For more information, please contact Ashleigh Epps, Aquaculture Specialist, at aepps6@uw.edu or 206.543.3674
2025 Washington Sea Grant Annual Shellfish Growers Conference Topic Agenda
Monday, February 10
8-9:00 AM Registration and Light Snacks Olympic Ballroom
9:00 AM Welcome
Ashleigh Epps and Kate Litle, Washington Sea Grant
9:30 AM 2025 Theme: Community
Melissa Poe, Washington Sea Grant
Topic 1: Species and Pest Management
9:50 AM European Green Crab Clam Loss Experiments Updates
Emily Grason, University of Washington; Lidia Garcia, University of Washington; Jennifer Ruesink, University of Washington
10:10 AM Unbalanced Salt Treatments Impacting Shrimp Physiology
Emma Guerrini Romano, University of Washington
10:30 AM Burrowing shrimp under pressure: mechanisms and efficacy of compaction and other mechanical control methods
Haleh Mawson & Jennifer Ruesink, University of Washington
10:50 AM BREAK
Topic 2: Legislation and Regulations
11:30 AM Sanitary Sessions
Dani Toepelt, Department of Health
11: 50 AM USDA Research Updates
Louis Plough, United States Department of Agriculture
11:50 PM Shellfish Transfer Permits for Wet Storage
Nam Siu, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
12:10 PM Grower Listening Session for 2024 Observations
Micah Horwith, Department of Ecology
12:30-1:30 PM Lunch Olympic Ballroom
Topic 3: Harmful Algal Blooms and Biotoxins
1:30 PM Rapid tests for PSP in shellfish
Megan Schulz, Salish Sea Research Center; Vera Trainer, University of Washington; Misty Peacock, Northwest Indian College
1:50 PM What value do you place on early warnings of HABs
Vera Trainer, University of Washington & Michelle Lepori-Bui, Washington Sea Grant; Leif Anderson, NOAA Northwest Fisheries Science Center; Michael Weir, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute; Jerry Borchert, Department of Health; Tracie Barry, Department of Health
2:10 PM Pumpkin Spice Oysters: Shellfish Discoloration
Zach Forster, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
2:30 PM New method to map the distribution of the Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning agent Alexandrium catenella
Cheryl Greengrove, UW Tacoma; Steve Kibler, NOAA Beaufort Laboratory; ; Julie Masura, UW Tacoma; Mark Vandersea, NOAA Beaufort Laboratory; Julie Matweyou, University of Alaska Fairbanks – Alaska Sea Grant; Courtney Hart, Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe; Tyler Harman, CSS Inc. – NOAA Contractor; Lynn Wilking, CSS Inc. – NOAA Contractor
3:00 PM BREAK
Topic 4: Planting and Production
3:30 PM Diploids or Triploids? A decision support tool for ploidy selection in Puget Sound
Craig Norrie, University of Washington
3:50 PM Aquaculture Data Production System
Christopher Eardley, Washington Department of Fish Wildlife
4:10 PM 1000 Ways Shellfish Die
Bobbi Hudson & Andy Suhrbier, Pacific Shellfish Institute
4:30 PM Shellfish environmental memory: Implications and opportunities
Steven Roberts, University of Washington; Mackenzie Gavery, NOAA Fisheries; Ariana Huffmyer, University of Washington
5:00 PM ADJOURN
6-8:00 PM Reception Mount Washington
Tuesday, February 11, 2025
8-9:00 AM Breakfast Olympic Ballroom
Topic 5: Ecosystem Interactions
9:00 AM Oyster Drills Working Group
Emily Grason, Washington Sea Grant & Julieta Martinelli, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
9:30 AM Exploring Opportunities for Co-production of Shellfish and Eelgrass
Jennifer Ruesink, University of Washington
9:50 AM Gray Whale Feeding Behaviors
Zackery Woods, Ocean Research College Academy- EVCC
10:00 AM Break
Topic 6: Rapid Response Network Workshop
10:30 AM Rapid Response Network Workshop
Julieta Martinelli, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife; Rana Brown, Squaxin Island Tribe; Ashleigh Epps, Washington Sea Grant
11:50 AM Closing Remarks
12:00 PM Adjourn
