Thanks to our generous sponsors, supporters and community at large, LANDLOCKED 8 raised funds to tell the story of Southern oyster farmers in 2025 and beyond – their triumphs and challenges, their successes and failures, their vision and grit. Through print, film, and digital channels, we’ll aim to shed light on the resilience, innovation and dedication of the unsung heroes who work tirelessly to cultivate some of the finest oysters in the South. As a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, Oyster South is committed to showcasing the human side of oyster farming and highlighting the individuals behind this burgeoning industry. Our storytelling initiative will create a platform that educates, entertains, inspires and empowers both seasoned farmers and aspiring newcomers through the production and distribution of compelling narratives about our community. Together, let’s celebrate the rich tapestry of the Southern oyster farming community and amplify our voices for the world to hear.

Follow us on Instagram as this exciting initiative unfolds in 2025.

THANK YOU SPONSORS, CHEFS, FARMERS, BARTENDERS, BREWERIES and VOLUNTEERS!

Our 2023 Landlocked fundraising effort focused on increasing our capacity at Oyster South and our Peer to Pier travel program for oyster farmers and chefs.

THANK YOU CHEFS, FARMERS, COCKTAIL PROS, BREWERIES, and VOLUNTEERS!

The 2022 beneficiaries are the Shell to Shore oyster shell recycling program, and Oyster South’s Peer to Pier travel program for oyster farmers and chefs.

We hope you can join us for LANDLOCKED 5 at Legacy Park in Decatur, GA from 4:00 to 7:00 PM!

This fundraiser takes place on behalf of Oyster South and has a direct financial impact on the farmed oyster industry in the Gulf of Mexico and Southeastern Atlantic coastline. It's been a couple of years since our last get together, so we're guessing that 2021 is going to be one for the books!

Tickets include ALL food and beverages, so be ready for a good time!

Oyster South is a 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 2016 by members of the scientific, restaurant, farming, and food-writing communities for the purpose of spotlighting southern oyster aquaculture. Our mission is to connect communities and provide resources to foster the success of oyster farming in the Southern United States. Oyster South’s vision is to spotlight and expand the environmental and economic benefits of oyster farming in the South, which will increase sustainable seafood production, improve the health of our waters, increase the prosperity of our coastal communities and elevate appreciation for Southern farm-raised oysters.

This year, Oyster South will be helping to raise funds for another 501 (c)(3) non-profit, Minorities in Aquaculture (MIA). Their mission is to help create a more diverse, inclusive aquaculture industry by educating minority women about the restorative and sustainability benefits provided by local and global aquaculture. Funds from Landlocked will allow MIA to recruit minority women in the form of paid internships. Each dollar will move MIAs mission a step closer to a better shellfishing reality.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/landlocked-5-2021-oyster-and-bbq-festival-a-fundraiser-by-oyster-south-tickets-165415571427

TICKETS ARE SOLD OUT!! If interested in volunteering, please email slurp@oystersouth.com

OTHER INFO:

Parking is limited - please consider a rideshare service.

In the event of cancellation or postponement due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we will issue a full refund to all ticketholders. You will have the option of either receiving a full refund or applying the amount paid as a donation to Oyster South and Minorities in Aquaculture.

Please join us on Friday 3/19/21 for our second Succinct Seminar!

Start time is 10 AM Central / 11 AM Eastern. We will be talking about sustainable packaging and enjoy a few three minute tech talks.

Our speakers will be:

Mary Smith, Sustainability Director of Inland Seafood

Cainnon Gregg, Oyster Farmer, Pelican Oyster Co.

Scott Maurer, Oyster Farmer, The Louisiana Oyster Co.

Patrick McMurray, aka Shucker Paddy, restaurateur, educator, and award winning oyster shucker.

Please feel free to invite your friends and other oyster fans. We usually meet in person for our annual Industry Symposium, but we're excited to be able to open this up to the public!

To receive your secure zoom link, please register here.

If you would like to watch the first seminar from 2/19/21 on shellfish research updates, you can view it here.

Get ready for Landlocked 3 in Decatur, GA on October 20, 2019 from 3 - 7PM.

This fundraiser takes place on behalf of Oyster South and has a direct financial impact on the farmed oyster industry in the Gulf of Mexico and Southeastern Atlantic coastline. If you like oysters, bbq and booze this event is for you. This year’s event includes over twenty oyster farms from the southeast and beyond as well as food prepared by the following fine chefs, pitmasters and bakers.

In October 2017, Oyster South threw the first ever Landlocked Oyster & BBQ Festival to celebrate farmed southern oysters and to raise money for the UGA Shellfish Research Laboratory. Thanks to all the generous sponsors and wonderful guests, Oyster South was able to write a check for over $20,000 directly to the University of Georgia.

Also be ready for cocktails and beer from the following fine folks:

1. Miles Macquarrie of Watchman’s

2. David Chapman of Kimball House

3. Kellie Thorn of Empire State South

4. Paul Calvert of Ticonderoga Club

5. Allagash Brewing

6. Creature Comforts Brewing Co.

7. Halfway Crooks

8. Fonta Flora Brewery

9. Three Taverns Craft Brewery

10. Arches Brewing

11. Sceptre Brewing Arts

12. Tip Top Cocktails

Tickets include ALL food and beverages, so be ready for a good time!

Oyster South is a 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 2014 by members of the scientific, restaurant, farming, and food-writing communities for the purpose of spotlighting southern oyster aquaculture. Oyster farming has provided great ecological and economic value to other parts of the country, and now we are seeing those benefits having positive effects in coastal communities throughout the south.  Oyster South’s goal is to help the farming industry succeed in these communities so that cultured oysters can be a relevant part of our southern diet and dining culture, provide a way to make a living for southern family oyster farms, and highlighting the positive environmental benefits of oyster farming.

This year donations will be used to strengthen Oyster South’s “Peer to Pier” program. Peer to Pier provides member farmers the opportunity to travel to other farms around the country in order improve their own operations through hands-on experience and education. Peer to Pier also creates an information exchange between growers that is slowly but surely taking southern farmed oysters from a regional product to national relevancy.

We invite our sponsors and the general public to Decatur, GA to help us celebrate the southern oyster farming community and raise money to support the people that are working to make the dream of a strong southern oyster culture a reality. We do hope you'll be able to join us. 

Much like last year, the primary beneficiary of Landlocked is the University of Georgia Marine Extension on Skidaway Island. The team behind the UGA Shellfish Research Lab has been working hard to produce oyster seed and teach interested people the art of farming oysters; the success of most successful oysters farming communities in the south can be traced back to their extension services. We want our friends at the UGA Shellfish Research Lab to have all the tools they need to help make Georgia a great place to grow, sell, and eat homegrown oysters. 

Landlocked 2 will also allow Oyster South to begin our new SEED BANK program.  You can't farm without seed, and access to seed (baby oysters) is one of the most critical variables to any farms success. The best way for a farmer to ensure that he or she has the seed needed to operate is to grow it themselves. Growing seed ain't easy though. There are equipment, labor, and a steep learning curve to deal with. And that's why Oyster South wants to help out. Seed Bank funds will be turned into grants that give upstart hatcheries the financial help they need to make sure that the South's oyster farms will always have the seed necessary to grow beautiful oysters.