** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** SHELLFISH AQUACULTURE HAS EXPERIENCED REMARKABLE GROWTH OVER THE LAST TWO DECADES AND IS A KEY SECTOR IN THE ECONOMIES OF MANY RURAL COASTAL AREAS OF THE US. CONTINUED EXPANSION IS CONSTRAINED BY AVAILABLE LABOR, WHICH, THOUGH A PERENNIAL ISSUE, HAS BEEN EXACERBATED RECENTLY. THIS PROJECT WILL DEVELOP AN IMPROVED UNDERSTANDING OF LABOR SUPPLY AND DEMAND IN THE BIVALVE SHELLFISH AQUACULTURE INDUSTRY, PROVIDE PRACTICAL TOOLS TO INDUSTRY TO MEASURE AND IMPROVE PRODUCTION EFFICIENCY, AND INFORM POLICY ACTIONS AIMED AT AUGMENTING LABOR SUPPLY AND/OR INCREASING USE OF LABOR-SAVING PRODUCTION METHODS AND TECHNOLOGIES. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES INCLUDE: 1) DETERMINE LABOR, MATERIAL, AND PHYSICAL CAPITAL REQUIREMENTS FOR DIFFERENT GROW OUT METHODS AND EVALUATE SUBSTITUTABILITY OF TECHNOLOGY FOR LABOR; 2) ASSESS EMPLOYER AND EMPLOYEE VIEWS ON EXISTING LABOR STRUCTURES, POTENTIAL FOR ALTERNATIVE MODELS, AND THE SUBSTITUTION OF TECHNOLOGY FOR LABOR; 3) QUANTIFY INDUSTRY LABOR DEMAND, COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH LABOR SHORTAGES, IMPACTS OF EXOGENOUS STRESSORS ON LABOR (E.G., COVID-19, CLIMATE CHANGE, ENERGY PRICES), AND WILLINGNESS TO INVEST OR PARTICIPATE IN PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO ADDRESS LABOR ISSUES; 4) DEVELOP A PRODUCTIVITY BENCHMARKING SOFTWARE TOOL AND MAKE IT AVAILABLE TO INDUSTRY; AND 5) CONDUCT EXTENSIVE OUTREACH TO COMMUNICATE FINDINGS REGARDING LABOR SUPPLY AND DEMAND, EXISTING CONSTRAINTS, AND POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS. DATA NECESSARY TO ACCOMPLISH THESE OBJECTIVES WILL BE COLLECTED USING INTERVIEWS, A STATED PREFERENCE SURVEY, AND REGULAR REPORTING OF PRODUCTION PRACTICES BY PARTNERING FARMS AND A RESEARCH FARM. BY IMPROVING OUR UNDERSTANDING OF LABOR CONSTRAINTS AND POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS, THIS PROJECT WILL FACILITATE SUSTAINED GROWTH OF THE SHELLFISH AQUACULTURE INDUSTRY.