Lecture Notes: Impact of Environmental Changes on Oyster Farming

Personal Background and Experience

• Speaker shared personal experience of packing oysters with their mother as a child.
• Described the activity as fun and a cherished memory.

Oyster Farming in Wola Bay

• Generational Businesses: Many small, generational businesses depend on the oyster industry.
• Community Identity: The community primarily consists of oyster and clam farmers.

Environmental Challenges

• Incident in 2008:

  • Hatcheries noticed high larval mortality rates.
  • Seed supply was insufficient, raising concerns.
  • Linked to pH changes in the ocean, attributed to global warming effects.

• Significance of Seed Supply:

  • Critical for farm survival; the product takes three years to reach market maturity.
  • Without seed, farms can only survive for a limited time.

Proactive Measures

• Hatchery in Hilo, Hawaii:

  • Established to secure oyster seed supply.
  • A strategic but risky decision due to environmental changes.

• Awareness and Action:

  • Oyster farmers observe direct impacts of environmental changes.
  • Emphasize the need for proactive monitoring and adaptation to sustain farming operations.

Conclusion

• Oyster farmers are among the first to notice climate change effects directly impacting their livelihoods.
• Importance of being proactive and monitoring environmental changes to avoid future business risks.