There are only so many things you can learn about aquaculture in a classroom. At the Duke Aquafarm in Atlantic Beach, N.C., students are wading into the water to conduct hands-on research that will help determine the best conditions for oyster farming. Their work has the potential to support farmers and protect the environment in coastal communities.
What is the Duke Aquafarm?
In short, the Duke Aquafarm is Duke University’s “campus farm” for shellfish aquaculture. Tom Schultz, Associate Professor of the Practice and Director of Undergraduate Studies for Marine Science and Conservation, founded the Aquafarm to give students and faculty real-world experience with oyster farming.
Starting with just 100 oyster bags, the site has grown to more than half an acre and can now accommodate more than 350 bags. Tom estimates that over 1,000 students have come to the Aquafarm since it launched in 2018.
What’s so important about oysters?
Oysters are valued in coastal North Carolina for many reasons. They stabilize shorelines, improve water quality, sequester carbon, and create a habitat for a variety of species. They also provide a food source that helps drive the local economy.
According to the North Carolina Coastal Federation and the state Division of Marine Fisheries, North Carolina’s oyster industry is worth nearly $25 million. At the same time, mass die-offs of oysters are threatening livelihoods and the local ecosystem. (Public Radio for Eastern North Carolina)
“Farmers are experiencing high mortality rates among oysters, which they rely on for their livelihood,” said Juliet Wong, Assistant Professor of Coastal and Marine Climate Change. “Up until this point there hasn’t been a lot of data collected to see how environmental conditions are changing leading into and during oyster die-off events.”
Wong joined the Nicholas School in the summer of 2023, drawn by the opportunities for research at the Duke Marine Lab. Her research focuses on how impacts from climate change, such as ocean acidification and warming, affect marine invertebrates.
What’s happening now at the Aquafarm?
Research to help oyster farmers prevent die-offs
A team of faculty and students tackled the problem of oyster mortality head-on this past year by conducting in-depth environmental monitoring at the Aquafarm. They assessed the impact of temperature, acidity, oxygen levels, salinity, the tidal cycle, and other variables to understand what oysters are experiencing on aquafarms.
These on-the-ground observations, Schultz said, will help them determine which laboratory-based experiments to conduct to shed light on how to prevent oyster die-offs.
“We can start testing these stressors and how oysters respond to them,” Schultz said. “How do these factors combine to affect the oysters, and what are the tipping points?”
- Molly Honecker, T’25, is studying how genetic differences among oysters, combined with environmental conditions, influence their ability to survive.
- Ming Shen, P’25, developed a gaping sensor to measure the distance between the two halves of an oyster’s shell to determine when and how often oysters are feeding.
- Sara Norton, T’25, is developing high-resolution maps of where oyster farms are located to see how their position correlates with oyster mortality.
- Jake Frietze, T’26, is studying how making changes to farming practices, such as flipping bags more frequently or exposing them to air more often, might prevent oyster mortality.
- Desa Bolger, MEM’25, is leading the collection of environmental data and determining how best to visualize and communicate patterns and changes.
Engaging with the local community
Once they have their findings, expected during the fall semester of 2024, the team hopes to build an online platform to share useful data and visuals with farmers and the scientific community.
The relationships they are building with farmers also have benefits for the Aquafarm. When farmers allow the Aquafarm to conduct research on their farms, it provides a larger number of sites that yield additional useful information.
“Oyster mortality is not just a North Carolina problem,” Schultz said. “It’s happening in Europe, the Pacific Coast, the Gulf of Mexico, and each area is facing different issues and stressors.”
The Aquafarm has also provided eye-opening experiences for local volunteers, visitors to the Duke University Marine Lab, leaders of the Duke Climate Commitment, and even a local Scout troop.
Collaborating with Bass Connections
Last summer, Schultz and Wong, along with fellow Duke faculty Nicolas Cassar and Elizabeth Albright, established a project team at the Aquafarm through Bass Connections, a Duke initiative that aims to link the classroom and the real world. The program gives graduate and undergraduate students a chance to tackle complex problems through hands-on learning experiences. They plan to apply for the Bass Connections project next fall, and hope the partnership will continue indefinitely.
Other programs at Duke that are utilizing the Aquafarm include:
- The Rachel Carson Scholars Program, named in honor of the renowned marine biologist, author, and conservationist whose work advanced the global environmental movement. This program gives Duke undergrads direct research experience and the necessary skills to be the next generation of marine conservation leaders.
- The Bonaventura Summer Research Fellows Program, a 10-week intensive summer research initiative at the Marine Lab that helps fellows acquire the skills needed to conceptualize and execute independent research.
By supporting the Nicholas School of the Environment, you are giving students the tools, training, and opportunities to conduct research that can have a real impact on local ecosystems and communities.
To make your gift to the Duke Aquafarm, please contact the Office of Development and Alumni Relations at 919-613-8003 or odar@nicholas.duke.edu.
