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Texas A&M AgriLife marine agent updates court on oyster farming, youth outreach
Summary
Marine Extension Agent Patrick Cruz told commissioners about 2025 outreach — classroom and hands‑on programs, oyster farm certifications and upcoming boater education — and said wild oyster harvests have declined while farmed oyster activity grows locally.
Patrick Cruz, the marine extension agent working along the coast, briefed the court on 2025 activities including youth outreach programs, hands‑on marine education and support for oyster aquaculture applicants seeking shellfish shipper certification.
Cruz said extension programs included classroom and field work that emphasizes touch‑tank and hands‑on learning for youth, and that extension staff assisted two operations in moving toward shellstock shipper certification so they could sell oysters commercially. He noted the wild oyster resource is under pressure and that certified oyster farms are increasing locally.
On future programming, Cruz said Texas Sea Grant outreach will include boater education and hunter education courses planned for 2026 and encouraged commissioners to review the program summaries he provided.
Commissioners thanked Cruz for the update. No formal action was taken.
