TNC’s Oyster Restoration Project Advances in Puerto Rico
Restorative oyster aquaculture is an industry with tremendous potential to provide livelihoods and food for communities and ecological benefits
Aquaculture is the fastest-growing food production sector in the world, offering significant opportunities to enhance food security, support local economies, and promote environmental sustainability. In the U.S. Caribbean, however, aquaculture remains in the early stages of development. To help address that gap, TNC has supported restorative oyster aquaculture as an industry with tremendous potential to provide alternative or supplemental livelihoods for coastal communities, while delivering ecological benefits such as improved water quality and habitat enhancement.
In 2024, TNC launched a project to catalyze the emerging U.S. Caribbean restorative oyster aquaculture industry. With support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), the project has accomplished its initial three objectives:
First, seven stakeholders from Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands—including fishers, government representatives, and conservation practitioners—participated in a learning exchange in New England, where they saw firsthand NRCS Conservation Practice Standards applied at three oyster farms.
Second, the project supported the installation of a depuration tank system (specialized aquatic treatment setup used to purify marine or freshwater animals) in the Culebra fishing village and the establishment of a proof-of-concept oyster hatchery in La Parguera.
Third, TNC conducted a comprehensive review of Puerto Rico’s marine aquaculture policies and regulations. The publication highlights barriers to industry growth and provides recommendations, including the establishment of a clear regulatory framework, the integration of environmental and biosafety considerations, and stronger engagement with coastal communities and local fishers, to overcome the challenges.
Learn more about marine aquaculture policies and regulations in Puerto Rico.
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