It's time to come together again! Our eighth Oyster South Symposium is a meeting to bring together producers, gear suppliers, distributors, chefs, food writers, vendors, researchers, students and managers from the southeast and Gulf coast regions to discuss pressing issues and relevant, practical research on oyster aquaculture.
WHEN & WHERE
The Symposium will take place this year in St. Augustine, FL, on March 20-22, 2025. The conference kicks off with a welcome reception on Thursday, March 20; talks and the trade show are on March 21 & 22; and it all concludes with our celebratory closing Shuck & Tell on Saturday, March 22.
Our meeting and trade show will be taking place at the Hyatt Place St. Augustine / Vilano Beach. Our room block at the Hyatt is now sold out and our overflow block is next door at the Hampton by Hilton St. Augustine Vilano Beach. Click here to reserve your room!
For sure plan to arrive by Thursday, March 20th to catch up with folks that evening at the Director's Reception at Boat Drinks. Once again we’ll be throwing the Shuck & Tell party on Saturday night to close out the meeting, so plan to depart on Sunday, March 23rd.
Map of Symposium venues here. Please note that participants are responsible for their own transportation to the Symposium, social events and tours.
SCHEDULE
Thursday, March 20th, 2025
Morning & afternoon
Tour option 1: Premium Seafood Shellfish Hatchery + Whitney Lab (St. Augustine) (tickets to come)
Tour option 2: Sharkbite Oysters (New Smyrna Beach) (tickets to come)
Symposium registration open at the Hyatt lobby (1:00 - 5:00 pm)
Evening
6:00-8:00 pm Director's Welcome Reception at Boat Drinks
Friday, March 21st, 2025 (@ Hyatt Place)
8:30-12:00 Talks and panel session
12:00-1:00 Lunch
1:00-3:00 Talks and panel session
3:00-5:00 Trade show and happy hour
Saturday, March 22nd, 2025 (@ Hyatt Place)
8:30-12:00 Talks and panel session
12:00-1:00 Lunch
1:00-3:00 Talks and panel session
3:00-5:00 Trade show and happy hour
7:00-9:00 Shuck and Tell (@ Flagler College Campus)
TICKETS & MEMBERSHIP
Current Oyster South paid members will receive discounted registration! If you are not a current member, you can join here. We'd love to have you as a member! Registration includes admission to all informational sessions (all day Friday and Saturday), the Director's Reception on Thursday night, the Shuck & Tell on Saturday night, and the trade show.
SPONSORSHIP
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. This year we are welcoming Presenting Sponsors ($10,000) who are prominently acknowledged and receive 2 adjoining exhibitor spaces (pending availability) and 12 or 24 registrations. Seafood Tower Sponsors ($6,000) receive either an exhibitor space (pending availability) and 12 or 16 registrations. A Dozen on the Half sponsors ($4,000) receive either a exhibitor space (pending availability) and 6 registrations or up to 10 registrations. Grilled Oyster Platter sponsors ($2,000) receive up to 6 registrations. In-kind sponsorships will also be considered. Please contact Bill Walton at bill@oystersouth.com and read more here about the sponsorship packages.
PRESENTING SPONSOR
TBD
SEAFOOD TOWER
A DOZEN ON THE HALF
Oyster Resource and Recovery Center at the Harte Research Institute of Texas A&M
South Atlantic Regional Sea Grant Programs (Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi-Alabama, Florida)
GRILLED OYSTER PLATTER
North Gulf Farms & Bama Bay Oyster Farm
University of North Carolina Wilmington Shellfish Research Hatchery
IN-KIND AND OTHER SPONSORS
Trade Show Participants (subject to change)
American Complete Oyster Farming Systems, Inc.
Auburn University Shellfish Lab
Blue Trace
FlipFarm Systems Ltd.
Ketcham Supply
LSU
Mobjack Bay
OceanFarmr
OysterGro
Oyster Seed Holdings, Inc.
Oyster Resource and Recovery Center at the Harte Research Institute of Texas A&M
Pure Biomass, Inc.
USM Thad Cochran Marine Aquaculture Center
Sea Farms Consulting
SEAPA
Submürge
USDA Risk Management Agency