It's time to come together again! Our fifth Oyster South Symposium is a meeting to bring together producers, gear suppliers, distributors, chefs, food writers, vendors, researchers, students and managers from the southeast region to discuss pressing issues and relevant, practical research on oyster aquaculture. This meeting is intended for industry members and intends to give good hands-on, practical information.
Symposium Program!
This year we are trying something different and holding our meeting outdoors on the beautiful grounds of the Ohr O'Keefe Art Museum (with a tent with walls and heaters if necessary) with the regular meeting on Wednesday, April 6th and Thursday, April, 7th.
You can purchase tickets now at the early bird rates (through February), and, as a current Oyster South paid member, you receive heavily discounted registration, with 20% off by entering a code you will get by email.
Trade show! One highlight of the meeting is our industry trade show that runs from Wednesday morning through Thursday afternoon. This year, vendor registration will include two meeting registrations in the price; any additional attendees will need an additional registration.
A block of rooms has been reserved for this meeting at the Hilton Garden Inn in Biloxi from Tuesday through Thursday. To obtain this rate, book your room here or indicate that you are with the Oyster South Symposium when you call. This is again a first come, first serve benefit with the room block deadline for reserving a room of March 11, 2022. There are many other possible accommodations in the area.
Flying in? The Gulfport-Biloxi airport is less than half an hour from the venue, while Mobile's airport is about an hour and New Orlean's airport is about 1.5 hours away.
More info coming soon on tours, workshops, and agenda. Right now, for sure plan to arrive Tuesday, April 5th to catch up with folks that evening (5-8 pm) at the Walter Anderson Museum of Art (WAMA) for the Director's Reception! There may be optional tours or y'all can take in the sites along the Gulf Coast on your own. With events through Thursday evening, stick around until Friday, April 8th!
We are looking for sponsors so please reach out if you'd like to be a sponsor of this year's symposium to Bill Walton at walton@vims.edu.
To put on a successful meeting for the industry while keeping registration costs reasonable, we welcome sponsorships. All sponsors will be recognized on Oyster South social media, have their logo on meeting materials, and be able to provide literature to meeting attendees. Gold sponsors ($5,000) receive either a vendor space and 6 registrations (pending availability) or up to 12 registrations. Silver sponsors ($2,500) receive either a vendor space and 3 registrations or up to 6 registrations. Bronze sponsors ($1,250) receive up to 3 registrations. In-kind sponsorships are also welcome. Please contact Bill Walton at walton@vims.edu.