Shellfish Aquaculture Literature & Scientific Studies

Having access to the best available science can help shellfish growers and resource managers make wise decisions regarding aquaculture and the environment.

The list below was compiled from a range of literature sources, including but not limited to:

• Peer-reviewed scientific studies
• Government and industry reports
• Species-specific literature
• Abstracts from recent workshops and conferences

Recommended Reading

• Shellfish Aquaculture and the Environment. S. E. Shumway, Editor. Wiley Science Publishers. The book consists of chapters covering all aspects of shellfish aquaculture. To read the Executive Summary, which summarizes each chapter, please go to the University of Connecticut support page. Topics covered include the role of shellfish farms in provision of ecosystem goods and services; BMPs; filter feeding; trophic interactions between phytoplankton and bivalves; dynamic modelling to prediction of production carrying capacity; eutrophication; mussel farming as a tool for re-eutrophication; bivalves as bioturbators and bioirrigators; environmental impacts of mechanical harvest of cultured shellfish; genetics; shellfish diseases and health management; marine invaders; economic development and conservation of living marine resources and habitats and the role of resource managers; education; implications of global climate change; and an industry perspective of future development of shellfish aquaculture. The book is meant to provide background information on key issues associated with shellfish aquaculture to resource managers and policymakers, to help translate the results of scientific research into sound policy, and ensure the continued growth of sustainable molluscan aquaculture.
• Environmental Best Management Practices for Aquaculture. Craig S. Tucker and John A. Hargreaves, Editors (2008, Wiley/Blackwell Publishers)
• Bivalve Aquaculture and Exotic Species: A Review of Ecological Considerations and Management Issues. McKindsey et al. (2007, Journal of Shellfish Research)
• Bird Damage at Aquaculture Facilities: Regulations and Solutions. The Internet Center for Wildlife Damage Management lists 61 species which cause damage to aquaculture operations. Learn about government regulations regarding bird depredation and potential solutions for your business.
• New Technologies in Aquaculture: Improving Production efficiency, quality and environmental management.G. Burnell and G. Allan, Editors (2009, Woodhead Publishing)
• Bivalve Mollusks: Biology, Ecology, and Culture.  E. M. Gosling, Editor (2003, Blackwell Publishing)
• The Eastern Oyster: Crassostrea virginica. V. S. Kennedy, R.I.E. Newell, and A.F. Ebel, (1996, Maryland Sea Grant)
• Biology of the Hard Clam.  J. N. Kraeuter and M. Castagna, Editors (2001, Elsevier Science)
• Scallops: Biology, Ecology and Aquaculture. S. E. Shumway and J. Parsons, Editors (2006, Elsevier Science)
• Shellfish Safety and Quality.  S. E. Shumway and G. E. Rodrick, Editors (2009, Woodhead Publishing)
• Statistics for Aquaculture.  R. C. Bhujel, Editor (2008, Wiley-Blackwell Publishers)

Searchable Databases

• National Sea Grant Library - The National Sea Grant Library (NSGL) is the digital library and official archive for NOAA Sea Grant documents. It is the only comprehensive collection of Sea Grant–funded documents from over 30 programs and projects across the country. This collection encompasses a wide variety of subjects, including oceanography, marine education, aquaculture, fisheries, aquatic nuisance species, coastal hazards, seafood safety, limnology, coastal zone management, marine recreation, and law.
• National Agriculture Library - The National Agricultural Library is one of four national libraries of the United States, with locations in Beltsville, Maryland and Washington, D.C. It houses one of the world's largest and most accessible agricultural information collections and serves as the nexus for a national network of state land-grant and U.S. Department of Agriculture field libraries.