It's time to come together again! Our ninth 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. (And, yes, we welcome all y’all from wherever!)
WHEN & WHERE
The Symposium will take place this year in Houston, Texas, on Jan. 29-31, 2026. The conference kicks off with a welcome reception on Thursday, Jan. 29th; talks and the trade show are on Jan 30th and 31s; and it all concludes with our celebratory closing Shuck & Tell on Saturday, Jan. 31st.
Our meeting and trade show will be taking place at the InterContinental Houston. Click here to reserve your room!
For sure plan to arrive by Thursday, Jan. 29th to catch up with folks that evening at the Director's Reception (location TBD). We expect to have tours offered on the 29th, so you may want to come in on the 28th to take advantage of those! Once again we’ll be throwing the Shuck & Tell party on Saturday night to close out the meeting, so plan to depart on Sunday, Feb. 1.
Map of Symposium venues coming soon. Please note that participants are responsible for their own transportation to the Symposium, social events and tours.
SCHEDULE
Thursday, Jan 29th, 2026
Morning & afternoon
Tours TBD
Symposium registration open at the InterContinental lobby (1:00 - 5:00 pm)
Evening
6:00-8:00 pm Director's Welcome Reception at TBD
Friday, Jan. 30th (@ InterContinental Houston)
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, Jan. 31st (@ InterContinental Houston)
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 (@ TBD)
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/Royal Flush ($15,000), Straight Flush Sponsors ($10,000), Four of a Kind Sponsors ($6,000), Full House Sponsors ($3,000) and Three of a Kind Sponsors ($1,000). We are open to your ideas and welcome other support!
ROYAL FLUSH (PRESENTING SPONSOR)
STRAIGHT FLUSH
FOUR OF A KIND
FULL HOUSE
Sea Farms Consulting, LLC
South Atlantic Regional Sea Grant Programs (Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi-Alabama, Florida)
THREE OF A KIND
IN-KIND AND OTHER SPONSORS
Trade Show Participants (subject to change)
American Complete Oyster Farming Systems, Inc. / Submürge
Blue Trace
FlipFarm Systems Ltd.
Ketcham Supply
OysterGro
Oyster Seed Holdings, Inc.
Oyster Resource and Recovery Center at the Harte Research Institute of Texas A&M
SEAPA
Sea Farms Consulting
USM Thad Cochran Marine Aquaculture Center