The Development of Pearl Aquaculture in the Americas: Results of a Sea Grant Gulf of Mexico Regional Workshop: Foreword

Abstract

On 25-26 March 1999, the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium (MASGC) sponsored a workshop at The University of Mississippi to organize a collaborative Sea Grant project that would examine the conservation biology, fisheries, aquaculture, and sustainable economic development of freshwater mussels and marine oysters. The MASGC is interested in developing pearl aquaculture in both freshwater and marine mollusks as new industries for the benefit of its stakeholders in the Gulf of Mexico. The major research, technical, economic, and marketing issues that were discussed and reviewed at the workshop are summarized.