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Climate Change Impacts on Farmed and Wild Oysters (2025-2026)

Oysters provide critical ecological services and support coastal economies in North Carolina, but farmers are increasingly reporting sudden mortality events, particularly during late spring and summer. These events are often linked to environmental stress, yet the specific drivers remain poorly understood and may vary across locations.

Building on the work from a previous team, this project team examined how environmental variability influences oyster growth, body condition and survival across multiple aquaculture sites. Team members conducted field-based monitoring at five oyster farms in coastal North Carolina, including the Duke University Marine Lab (DUML) Aquafarm, Ward Creek, Stump Sound, CMAST and Nelson Bay. The team deployed oceanographic sensors to continuously measure environmental conditions such as temperature, salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen and wave energy, while simultaneously collecting biological data on oyster growth, body condition and mortality across several genetic strains.

During the academic year, the project team operated across two locations. Students based at the Duke Marine Lab in Beaufort carried out sensor deployment, field monitoring and biological sampling, while students in Durham focused on environmental data processing, statistical analysis and development of a public-facing online data platform. During the 2025 monitoring season, mass mortality events were documented at two sites — Stump Sound and CMAST. Preliminary analyses suggested that site-specific stressors may have contributed to these events, including a sharp decline in dissolved oxygen at Stump Sound and elevated mechanical energy associated with wave action and boat traffic at CMAST.

The team also examined oyster lineage performance and found no consistent growth advantage for triploid oysters across sites, suggesting that environmental context may influence which genetic lines perform best. Findings from the project were presented at multiple scientific conferences and contributed to an online data platform designed to share environmental monitoring data with oyster farmers and stakeholders. Continued monitoring in future seasons will help expand the dataset and improve understanding of how changing environmental conditions affect oyster aquaculture.

Timing

Fall 2025 – Spring 2026

Team Outputs

Not So Happy as an Oyster: Environmental Stressors on NC Oysters (Team profile)

Environmental Impacts on Farmed Eastern Oysters in North Carolina (Poster presentation at the Fortin Foundation Bass Connections Showcase, April 15, 2026)

Conference presentation on oyster mortality and environmental monitoring (Benthic Ecology Meeting; Virginia Beach, Va.; March 2026)

Conference presentation on oyster mortality and environmental monitoring (AERS/SEERS Joint Spring Meeting; Morehead City, N.C.; Spring 2026)

Environmental monitoring platform for North Carolina oyster farms 

Environmental and biological monitoring dataset from five North Carolina oyster farms

Manuscript in progress

This Team in the News

MEM Students Explore Climate Change Impacts on Farmed and Wild Oysters

See related teams, Climate Change Impacts on Farmed and Wild Oysters (2024-2025) and Climate Change Impacts on Farmed and Wild Oysters (2026-2027)

Team Leaders

  • Elizabeth Albright, Nicholas School of the Environment: Environmental Sciences and Policy
  • Nicolas Cassar, Nicholas School of the Environment: Earth and Climate Sciences
  • Thomas Schultz, Nicholas School of the Environment: Marine Science and Conservation
  • Juliet Wong, Nicholas School of the Environment: Marine Science and Conservation

Graduate Team Members

  • Amelia McDonald, Coastal & Marine Systems (Env); Comm Engage & Envrn Jus (Mgmt)
  • Ryan Meshanko, Coastal & Marine Systems (Env); Business & Environment (Mgmt)
  • Diandre' Richie, Coastal & Marine Systems (Env); Envrn Economics & Policy (Mgmt)

Undergraduate Team Members

  • Jane Curry, ; Marine Sci & Conservation (AB)
  • Renée Dunford, Marine Sci & Conservation (BS); Chemistry (BS2)
  • Annabelle Dyer, Environmental Sciences (BS)
  • Scarlett Schwimmer, Earth and Climate Sciences(BS)
  • Reid Wygal, Marine Sci & Conservation (BS); Biology (BS2)

Community Team Members

  • Tal Ben-Horin, North Carolina State University, Center for Marine Sciences and Technology (CMAST)
  • Ami Wilbur, University of North Carolina Wilmington

Team Contributors

  • Grant Murray, Nicholas School of the Environment: Marine Science and Conservation

Themes