North Carolina has a growing marine aquaculture — or mariculture — industry including soft crabs, clams, oysters and finfish.
Shellfish mariculture, in particular, has seen tremendous interest in recent years. North Carolina Sea Grant has been a leader in research and outreach on these topics. In fact, we are a key partner in the new North Carolina Shellfish Initiative, along with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, state agencies and the N.C. Coastal Federation.
The links on this page will connect you to resources and partners that will be of interest for new and existing growers, as well as anyone who is interested in shellfish mariculture.
Sea Grant Contacts

Photo by Vanda Lewis.
Eric Herbst, coastal aquaculture specialist, North Carolina Sea Grant, echerbst@ncsu.edu
Frank Lopez, extension director, North Carolina Sea Grant, 919-515-3012, fmlopez@ncsu.edu
Lopez is an initial point of contact for general information on all aspects of marine aquaculture development in the state.
Barry Nash, seafood technology and marketing specialist, North Carolina Sea Grant, 252-222-6337, barry_nash@ncsu.edu
Jane Harrison, coastal economies specialist, North Carolina Sea Grant, 919-513-0122, jane_harrison@ncsu.edu
Information and Resources
Learn more about Sea Grant’s research and outreach on mariculture topics.
- North Carolina Cultured Shellfish: An Overview
- North Carolina Cultured Shellfish brochure
- NC Oyster Trail
- Shellfish Growers’ Seminar Series (available on YouTube)
- Shellfish Leases and Harvest Closures Along the North Carolina Coast (NC State Extension)
- Online Economic Spreadsheet Tool for Oyster Aquaculture
- Shellfish Growers Loan Program
- Shellfish Aquaculture Gear Management and Storm Preparedness Resource Guide
Here are a few stories from our Coastwatch magazine:
- Testing the Waters, Summer 2019 (cover story)
- Farming Coastal Waters: Applied Research Supports Oyster Growers, Winter 2018 (cover story with photo essay)
- Sea Science: Restoring Our Oysters: Dealing with the Sponge Problem, Summer 2017
- Sea Science: Growing Better Bivalves: Science, Local Knowledge Enhance N.C. Business, Summer 2017
- People and Places: Story Map Reveals Oyster Treasures, Autumn 2016
- Building a Better Reef Takes a Team, Winter 2015
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