Virginia Institute of Marine Science, Gloucester Point, VA | Higher Education
New state-of-the-art 22,000 SF oyster hatchery at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science. The facility contains wet labs for growing oysters, primary research space and staff offices, as well as space for outreach activities with industry that promotes economic development. Exterior components include a pair of outdoor 10,000-gallon river water storage tanks and a new pump house and piping system to deliver river water to the facility.
The facility is advancing the science of farming shellfish, while also functioning as a massive water filtration system. Once the water and oysters cycle through each of the laboratories’ development phases, the filtered water is then returned into the river. The wet lab spaces nurture and grow the oysters from conception through spat development for distribution to commercial hatcheries and processing facilities. The science being conducted is intended to develop oyster strains which are resistant to diseases.