From Texas to Alaska: Unlocking Oyster Reproduction Potential for Sustainable Coastal Communities

 

 By. Kate Gomez Rangel      

Hi, my name is Kate Gomez-Rangel. I am a NOAA EPP CCME-II Graduate Scholar pursuing a master’s degree in fisheries and mariculture at Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi. In the Coral Reef and Ocean Health Lab at the Harte Research Institute, I focus on techniques to advance sustainable shellfish production and support resilient coastal ecosystems. My thesis research investigates the reproductive dynamics of hybrid eastern oysters (Crassostrea virginica) naturally occurring in Corpus Christi Bay, Texas. Particularly, I aim to determine the spawning fertilization success rates between two distinct populations to understand their genetic compatibility and potential for hybrid viability. This project will support the mariculture production for Texas farmers and industry.   

I had the amazing opportunity to complete a 12-week NOAA Experimental Research and Training Opportunity (NERTO) Internship at the NOAA Alaska Fisheries Science Center in Juneau, Alaska. Specifically, I worked with the Auke Bay Laboratories – Ted Stevens Marine Research Institute. Under the mentorship of Dr. Jordan Hollarsmith, I worked with the mariculture research team to further understand and develop techniques for oyster mariculture sustainability. It was insightful to learn that these oysters are bred in Hawaii and then brought to Alaska – a state without native populations – to grow. This reshaped my understanding of how aquaculture can be strategically implemented in regions where these species don’t naturally occur. Therefore, I focused on strategies to advance trial production of Pacific oysters in Alaska through field testing, hatchery research, and farmer collaboration. With the goal to successfully conduct spawning events during the cold summer spawning season, we adapted standard hatchery protocols to Alaska’s colder environmental conditions. During a visit to Salty Lady Seafood Company, I gained insight into how farm operations in Alaska compare to those in Texas. I never anticipated how different oyster farming in Alaska would be compared to my experiences in Texas.  By observing environmental conditions where oysters grow, witnessing distinct biofouling organisms and equipment used, I broadened my understanding on regional mariculture practices. During my visit to the NOAA field research station in Baranoff Island, I further strengthened my scientific understanding of Alaska mariculture. As a team, we deployed cages of juvenile seed oysters and collected samples of older oyster stocks to gather data on growth and development. 

        

TSMRI hatchery where attempts of oyster spawning and observations of gonad samples was conducted. 

NOAA Little Port Walter Research Field Station where deployment of oyster seed and collections of broodstock oysters was conducted. 

The connection between my NERTO and thesis research allows me to further develop skills and knowledge on oyster mariculture in extreme environmental conditions. As Alaska lacks commercial oyster hatcheries, all oyster seed must be imported and previous attempts at local spawning has failed. My work is the first to successful seeding of Alaskan oysters.  I also conducted a pilot study evaluating gonadal development and spawning success of broodstock oysters from nine southcentral mariculture farms to generate baseline data for future hatchery efforts. I gained valuable hands-on experience in broodstock conditioning, spawning techniques, and larval culture under cold-water conditions. This opportunity expanded my technical skills in hatchery operations, reproductive monitoring, and environmental data collection. It also deepened my understanding of how regional factors influence shellfish development, growth, and survival. Through collaboration with NOAA scientists and local farmers, I strengthened my skills in communications, data management, problem-solving and overall professional development.

Photo of the TSMRI mariculture team (Left to Right): Sofia Fox, Spencer Lunda, Rebecca Cates, Krystal Renta, Coral Tolman, Kate Gomez-Rangel, Jordan Hollarsmith. 

My NERTO was an invaluable experience to support the mission of NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and contribute applied research to Alaska’s emerging mariculture sector. This project provided baseline data on the reproductive capacity of Pacific Oyster to inform future hatchery development and advance NMFS priorities in sustainable aquaculture. I am grateful for the mentorship from Dr. Hollarsmith and everyone I’ve met through this internship. As I had never traveled so far north, this internship was a catalytic journey that deepened my appreciation and passion for the marine science as a career path.

 

Funding for this internship was provided  through the NOAA CCME-II and the NOAA Educational Partnership Program, Cooperative Agreement Award #NA21SEC4810004. The contents of this post are solely the responsibility of the award recipient and do not necessarily represent the official views of the U.S. Department of Commerce, NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration).