The Duke Marine Lab is likely not the first place you would consider hosting a working farm, but students and members of the Marine Lab community in Beaufort have a unique opportunity for hands-on experiences growing oysters.
Tom Schultz, Associate Professor of the Practice of Marine Molecular Conservation and Director of Undergraduate Studies for the Marine Science Conservation Division, started the program in 2018 and leads efforts at the Aquafarm. According to Tom, the farm is an amazing opportunity for students and other members of the Duke community.
More than 90 percent of the students who study at the Marine Lab take advantage of the oyster farm. Oysters are an essential part of coastal ecosystems, creating a habitat for many marine species while filtering the water to help keep it clean.
At the Aquafarm, not only are students growing oysters, but they are also utilizing the site for research to understand anthropogenic and climate impacts on oyster aquaculture.
Laura Givens, Duke PhD, recently defended her thesis where she looked at the impact of aquaculture on biodiversity using environmental DNA (eDNA) and newly emerging sequencing technologies. Jilly Senk T’24 also recently presented her Graduation with Distinction thesis focusing on oysters’ waste to determine if micro-plastics in the water are ingested by oysters, and what effect the plastic in their waste may have on the environment underneath the oyster farm. Claire Song T’25 is double-majoring in Visual Arts and Biology, and has been creating detailed drawings of clusters of oysters with the goal of identifying different species.
These are just a few examples of how Duke students can utilize the farm to learn about the coastal environment. For more history, check out this article from 2019 – Duke Aquafarm Gives Students Experiential Oyster Farming Experience. You can also view this video, which shows the oyster farm in action.
As Tom looks to the future, he is working hard to create a reference site for understanding the interactions between shellfish aquaculture and coastal environments. He and Juliet Wong, Assistant Professor of Coastal and Marine Climate Change, have recruited a Bass Connections team of students to monitor environmental parameters at the Duke Aquafarm this summer.
To support this work, Tom envisions building a boardwalk out to the salt marsh, allowing easier access and an opportunity for the environment to be restored underneath the path.
Interested in supporting the Duke Aquafarm? Gifts starting at $100 can help underwrite boating excursions, support the purchase of coastal observatory equipment, and help supply much-needed equipment such as oyster bags. To learn more, please contact Ann Thurston at ann.thurston@duke.edu or 919-613-8018.
