SUPPORTING NH's SHELLFISH FARMERS

COLSA student and researcher sets sights on raising awareness of the Granite State’s burgeoning shellfish industry

When she’s not studying the impact of invasive green crabs — and the now emerging blue crabs — on native shellfish in New Hampshire’s Great Bay Estuary, marine biology doctoral student Kelsey Meyer spends time talking with the state’s legislators and legislative staff about the critical role that oyster farming can play in driving aquaculture sector growth, and how oysters offer many ecological benefits, such as filtering water and supporting the health of native marine life.

As the coordinator for the NH Shellfish Farmers Initiative (NHSFI), Meyer has become a key advocate for the Granite State’s oyster farmers by spreading the word about the benefits of raising the shellfish, which she’s done at events and organizational meetings up and down the New Hampshire and Southern Maine seacoasts. She also helps organize the annual New Hampshire Oyster Week, which celebrated its second year in September 2022.

One of the region’s foremost outreach events for oyster aquaculture, New Hampshire Oyster Week lets oyster farmers directly connect with consumers while also providing a venue to highlight NHSFI-supported oyster aquaculture and restoration projects, which serve the needs of shellfish farmers, environmentalists and conservationists, local landowners, policy leaders and seafood consumers.

“The general public doesn’t typically know the value of New Hampshire’s oyster farms,” says Meyer. “We’re really raising awareness about the state’s oyster aquaculture, how important it is and that we have a lot of great local oyster farming businesses right here.”

Meyer began her Ph.D. at the University of New Hampshire in 2020, under the guidance of Bonnie Brown, professor and chair of the department of biological sciences, and with funding from the NH Agricultural Experiment Station. As she started working on different shellfish research and outreach initiatives in the community, she connected with the grassroots NHSFI and plans to run it full time after graduating.

“Oysters are a keystone species — they help with shoreline protection and, as filter feeders, they help improve water quality and clarity,” Meyer says.

“They’re integral to keeping Great Bay a healthy ecosystem — and that’s something that I think we can all agree is important.”

To read more, scan the QR code or use link below.

https://bit.ly/NHSFI