Roast for a Reason

UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant will host its fourth annual Oyster Roast for a Reason fundraising event supporting the UGA Oyster Hatchery on Nov. 17, from 2-6 p.m., on the bluff next to the UGA Marine Education Center and Aquarium on Skidaway Island.

The event will feature live music provided by Chameleon Brotherhood and guests will have the opportunity to enjoy locally harvested Georgia oysters.

The event is designed to raise awareness of the hatchery, which was launched at the UGA Shellfish Research Lab on Skidaway Island in 2015. There they spawn baby oysters, or spat, which are given to local shellfish growers who cultivate the singles on state-approved leases along the Georgia coast. At full capacity, the hatchery could produce 15 million spat, with an estimated harvest value of $3.75 million to $5.2 million.

Tickets are $75 and include beer, wine and all you can eat oysters. They are available to purchase at gacoast.uga.edu/ oysterroast/.