Delaware Sea Grant

OBJECTIVE: To examine the independent contribution of risk factors developing during pregnancy to subsequent risk of obesity in young children. METHODS: We conducted a historical cohort study using data from electronic medical records of mothers and their 3,302 singleton offspring born between 2004 and 2007 at a community-based obstetric facility who attended a 4-year well visit at a pediatric practice network. The child's body mass index (BMI) z score at age 4 years was studied in relation to the mother's gestational weight gain, gestational diabetes mellitus, gestational hypertension or preeclampsia, and prenatal tobacco use. Institute of Medicine categories defined excess and inadequate gestational weight gain at term. Analysis of variance and multiple linear regression were used to test their independent relation to BMI. RESULTS: Mothers were white (39%), African American (46%), and of Hispanic ethnicity (11%); 46% were privately insured. The association of net gestational weight gain with the child's BMI z score was significant after adjustment for prepregnancy maternal factors (P<.001); gestational diabetes mellitus, gestational hypertension, and tobacco use were not significant in adjusted models. Children of mothers with excess gestational weight gain had a higher mean BMI z score (P<.001) but a significant association was observed only for inadequate gestational weight gain after adjusting for prepregnancy BMI and other covariates. Prepregnancy BMI (P<.001), Hispanic ethnicity (P<.001), and being married (P<.05) were independently associated with increasing BMI z score of the offspring. CONCLUSIONS: Preconception maternal factors had a greater influence on child obesity than prenatal factors. The gestational weight gain category was independently related to BMI z score of 4 year olds, but this association was significant only for mothers with inadequate gestational weight gain. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II.

All the good news about seafood-the health and nutritional benefits, the wide varieties and flavors-has had a positive effect on consumption: people are eating more seafood (http://www.seagrant.sunysb.edu/seafood/pdfs/SeafoodSavvy.pdf). Yet consumers want to be assured that seafood is as safe as, or safer to eat than, other foods. When you hear "seafood safety", think of a safety net designed to protect you, the consumer, from food-borne illness. Every facet of the seafood industry, from harvester to consumer, plays a role in holding up the safety net. The role of state and federal agencies, fishermen, aquaculturists, retailers, processors, restaurants, and scientists is to provide, update, and carry out the necessary handling, processing, and inspection procedures to give consumers the safest seafood possible. The consumer's responsibility is to follow through with proper handling techniques, from purchase to preparation. It doesn't matter how many regulations and inspection procedures are set up; the final edge of the safety net is held by the consumer. This article will give you the information you need to educate yourself and be assured that the fish and shellfish you consume are safe. The most common food-borne illnesses are caused by a combination of bacteria naturally present in our environment and food handling errors made in commercial settings, food service institutions, or at home.

Tournament anglers and organizations that represent them can be expected to play a greater role in seeking to influence future fisheries policy as tournaments increase in number. In stating management preferences and opinions, tournament anglers may argue they are representative of all anglers. Fisheries managers need to know more about this user segment and how they differ from the general population of anglers. More than 20 studies were reviewed to obtain information on participation patterns and motivations of saltwater tournament anglers. Results were presented for each relevant participation variable where data were available. Since aggregated data were used, no statistical tests of significant differences were possible; comparisons of study results were made by inspection. When saltwater tournament anglers were compared with two control groups of saltwater anglers, the former were more active in terms of all fishing participation indicators considered. Although there was agreement between saltwater tournament anglers and saltwater anglers on the high importance of the non-catch aspects of their fishing experiences (relaxation, escape, nature, and companionship), tournament anglers attached greater importance to the sport and challenge involved in seeking certain species. By integrating the results of 20 studies conducted between 1974 and 1987, this paper provides a basis for hypothesis testing in future research on competitive angling.

Rip currents are significant hazards that pose serious threats to surf zone swimmers and waders in all coastal regions. Rip currents form under specific conditions related to winds, waves, swell, tides, and bathymetry. These strong, narrow seaward flowing currents extend from close to the shoreline, through the surf zone, out past the line of breaking waves. Rip current strength and duration may vary dramatically depending on wave and swell parameters, and even the most experienced swimmers are in danger when they encounter a strong rip current. According to U.S. Lifesaving Association statistics, rip currents cause over 100 drowning fatalities each year, and 80% of all rescues on surf beaches nationwide are rip current related. Cooperative and coordinated efforts at many levels have combined to improve public education related to dangers associated with these surf zone currents. In many coastal regions, NOAA-National Weather Service issues a Surf Zone Forecast product that includes a 3-tiered Rip Current Outlook. Concurrently, NOAA-Sea Grant, NOAA-National Weather Service, and NOAA-National Ocean Service have developed a coordinated program and partnership to increase rip current awareness and improve communication between rip current research scientists and forecasters. These NOAA partnership programs exist at the local, regional, and national levels, working to coordinate applied research, outreach, and operational forecasts. Ultimately, the goals of the partnerships are to improve pubic safety and reduce the risk of rip current hazards.

Abstract Aim Migratory freshwater fishes are those that must access discrete habitats to complete their life cycles. Freshwater fish migrations occur around the world and provide numerous ecosystem services for humans and natural systems; however, many migratory species are in decline globally. A limiting factor to successfully conserve freshwater migratory fishes is that the migratory life histories of many species are unknown or only partially described. To provide researchers with critical and comprehensive information to conserve migratory fishes, we developed the North American Freshwater Migratory Fish Database (NAFMFD). Location Canada, Mexico and the United States. Taxon Freshwater fish. Methods To develop this database, we assigned migratory status, pattern and behaviour to a comprehensive list of freshwater fish species found throughout North America. We assembled the database which included assignments (i.e. migratory status, pattern and behaviour) as well as the sources used to make the assignments. Researchers and managers from across North America reviewed the database for completeness and accuracy on the migratory life histories of fishes. Results The database synthesizes current knowledge of migratory status, pattern and behaviour of native and non‐native freshwater fishes throughout North America, including 1250 species representing 79 families and 325 genera. Results showcase the diversity of migratory life histories of freshwater fishes on the continent, including that at least 25% of North American freshwater fishes are migratory, 23% are non‐migratory and 44% have undetermined migratory status. Main conclusions NAFMFD improves the quality of migratory data accessible to researchers, which supports a more holistic understanding of the threats encountered by migratory fishes, including habitat fragmentation. The approach we used in developing NAFMFD can provide guidance for developing similar databases in other regions. Collectively, our work offers new insights into the range of freshwater fish migratory life histories, stimulating a need to better understand this diversity globally.

AIMS: The pressure responses of four genotypes of F-specific RNA bacteriophages, f2, GA, Qbeta and SP, were evaluated with respect to pressure magnitude, treatment temperature and suspending medium. METHOD AND RESULTS: The pressure responses were studied with respect to pressure magnitude (350 to 600 MPa), treatment temperature (-10 to 50 degrees C) and suspending media. Phages f2 and GA had much higher pressure resistances than Qbeta and SP. Pressure resistances of Qbeta and SP were enhanced with increase in salt concentrations in the range of 350 to 600 MPa from -10 to 50 degrees C in PBS. Qbeta and SP had greater pressure resistances when suspended in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) with added glucose (5%, w/w), UHT whole milk and Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium plus 10% fetal bovine sera than they did in PBS. Two surfactants, sucrose laurate and monolaurin, and one chelating agent, ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA), increased the pressure resistance of Qbeta and SP, but had modest effect on either f2 or GA. CONCLUSIONS: Four representative F-specific RNA bacteriophages, f2 (serotype I), GA (serotype II), Qbeta (serotype III) and SP (serotype IV) showed different resistances to hydrostatic pressure in the range of 350-600 MPa. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This study screened for practical surrogates of HAV for validation of commercial high hydrostatic pressure processing.

During September through November of 2006, in-store intercept surveys of consumers who buy live seafood in retail markets in New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania revealed that the average live seafood consumer makes 6.2 visits per month, spends $14.80 per visit on live seafood, travels 7.8 miles mainly by car, and is purchasing for 3.7 people in his or her household. Consumers value physical appearance of the product over price, generally have no preference for either “Product of the USA” or imported, and generally have no preference for either wild-caught or farm-raised. Many had no preference whether their fish was alive or dead before leaving the store, but if the fish is to be slaughtered in-store, preferred to have their fish gutted or filleted. Consumers generally prefer to purchase live seafood during the winter months and on either a Friday or Saturday.

Earth-observing satellites are a major research tool for spatially explicit ecosystem nowcasting and forecasting. However, there are practical challenges when integrating satellite data into usable real-time products for stakeholders. The need of forecast immediacy and accuracy means that forecast systems must account for missing data and data latency while delivering a timely, accurate, and actionable product to stakeholders. This is especially true for species that have legal protection. Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus (Atlantic sturgeon) were listed under the United States Endangered Species Act in 2012, which triggered immediate management action to foster population recovery and increase conservation measures. Building upon an existing research occurrence model, we developed an Atlantic sturgeon forecast system in the Delaware Bay, USA. To overcome missing satellite data due to clouds and produce a 3-d forecast of ocean conditions, we implemented data interpolating empirical orthogonal functions (DINEOF) on daily observed satellite data. We applied the Atlantic sturgeon research model to the DINEOF output and found that it correctly predicted Atlantic sturgeon telemetry occurrences over 90% of the time within a 3-d forecast. A similar framework has been utilized to forecast harmful algal blooms, but to our knowledge, this is the first time a species distribution model has been applied to DINEOF gap-filled data to produce a forecast product for fishes. To implement this product into an applied management setting, we worked with state and federal organizations to develop real-time and forecasted risk maps in the Delaware River Estuary for both state-level managers and commercial fishers. An automated system creates and distributes these risk maps to subscribers' mobile devices, highlighting areas that should be avoided to reduce interactions. Additionally, an interactive web interface allows users to plot historic, current, future, and climatological risk maps as well as the underlying model output of Atlantic sturgeon occurrence. The mobile system and web tool provide both stakeholders and managers real-time access to estimated occurrences of Atlantic sturgeon, enabling conservation planning and informing fisher behavior to reduce interactions with this endangered species while minimizing impacts to fisheries and other projects.

High pressure processing (HPP) is a nonthermal processing technology that can inactivate foodborne viruses. This study assessed the protective effects of food components on virus inactivation by HPP in a seafood salad model. Virus-inoculated seafood samples (cod, shrimp, tuna, and clams) with or without mayonnaise were pressure-treated at 5°C. The seafood salad provided a protective effect on HPP inactivation compared to cell culture medium. Inactivation in seafood salad varied greatly due to the complex nature of the food matrix. When seafood salad ingredients were isolated, mayonnaise alone had a 2.0-log10 PFU/g protective effect for all viruses, unlike albumin, which did not affect virus inactivation, providing some insight into the roles individual ingredients may play on HPP inactivation of viruses in foods.

Abstract Atlantic Croaker Micropogonias undulatus , Black Drum Pogonias cromis , Spot Leiostomus xanthurus , and Weakfish Cynoscion regalis have shown species‐specific, varying trends in abundance despite general declines in commercial landings throughout the Delaware River estuary. Identifying how environmental factors and climatic processes affect fishes at multiple life stages is needed to enhance the precision of regulatory actions for managed species. Species‐, area‐, and age‐specific indices were compared with depth, salinity, temperature, the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO), and the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) to explore potential relationships as well as temporal and spatial parameters. Our results demonstrate that station (15 indices), salinity (14 indices), the AMO and NAO (13 indices each), and depth and temperature (12 indices each) served as important components for models of abundance for 17 species‐, age‐, and area‐specific combinations from 1991 to 2016. Significant time series trends were detected in six of the modeled indices of abundance, including baywide indices of age‐1 Weakfish (decline) and age‐0 Atlantic Croaker (increase); age‐0 Atlantic Croaker (increase) and Weakfish (decline) in Delaware; and age‐1 Spot (decline) and Weakfish (increase) in Delaware. Our results demonstrate how multiple fixed‐station surveys can be combined to quantitatively assess environmental and climatic effects correlated with species‐, age‐, and area‐specific levels of abundance, suggesting that climatic signals are affecting smaller‐scale environmental variables that in turn affect relative abundance.

From February through August of 2006, a team of two researchers visited 130 ethnic live seafood markets in the northeastern USA that sell live seafood. Operators of 27% of these locations completed a survey asking basic information about their businesses with respect to live seafood. This study provides interesting baseline information on these markets directly from market managers and operators. The markets surveyed have been in business for median of nine years. Sixty-three percent receive more than one live fish shipment per week. Fifty-five percent of markets sell over 227 kg of live seafood per month. Asians are the predominant clientele in most of these locations. Most market operators stated they prefer freshness and quality over price and availability. About the same number of markets identified strong sales during the winter months as those that indicated constant live seafood sales. Live tilapia and hybrid striped bass are the two most common products. Sixty-two percent of market operators view the live seafood section as very important to overall sales in their store and roughly one-quarter of those surveyed are considering expansion.

Estuaries include some of the most productive yet anthropogenically impacted marine ecosystems on the planet, and provide critical habitat to many ecologically and economically important marine species. In order to elucidate ecological function in estuaries, we must understand what factors drive community dynamics. Delaware Bay is the third largest estuary in the United States and hosts over 200 species of migrant and resident fishes and invertebrates. The Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife has conducted two long-term trawl surveys at monthly intervals in Delaware Bay since 1966. The two surveys collect data on environmental conditions, species composition, and number of fishes and macroinvertebrates across different size classes and life histories. Using a suite of multivariate approaches including hierarchical cluster analysis, canonical correlation analysis, and permutational multivariate analysis of variance, we characterized the fish and macroinvertebrate community in Delaware Bay and found that community composition and environmental conditions varied across spatial and seasonal scales. We identified four distinct biogeographic regions, based on environmental conditions and community composition, which were consistent across surveys. We found that the community was driven primarily by gradients in temperature and salinity and that abundant, frequently occurring species in the Bay have well-defined environmental associations. Our work represents the first attempt to use an existing historical survey to better understand how environmental parameters influence diversity and distribution of macrofauna within Delaware Bay, providing insight into how abiotic variables, influenced by climate, may impact the Delaware Bay ecosystem and similar estuarine ecosystems worldwide.

Passenger ferries in the New York-New Jersey Harbor have proliferated in recent years and now carry almost 67,000 passengers each day, with more than 50 vessels serving 39 routes. With 1.6 million disabled individuals in New York City alone, accessibility is a key concern. The U.S. Access Board, a federal agency tasked with developing accessibility standards, is in the process of developing accessibility standards for passenger vessels. A milestone in this process was reached with the December 2000 publication of recommended vessel accessibility guidelines by the board's Passenger Vessel Access Advisory Committee (PVAAC), an assembly of representatives from the disabled community and the passenger vessel industry. The PVAAC recommendations are applied to the smallest vessel in the New York-New Jersey Harbor private transit ferry fleet, providing insights into the design challenges of small passenger vessel accessibility. The intention is to heighten the awareness of such design challenges among the disabled, vessel operators, and marine designers and to spur the development of innovative solutions.

This paper develops a decision framework for considering emission control technologies on marine engines, informed by standard decision theory, with an open structure that may be adapted by operators with specific vessel and technology attributes different from those provided here. Attributes relate objectives important to choosing control technologies with specific alternatives that may meet several of the objectives differently. The transparent framework enables multiple stakeholders to understand how different subjective judgments and varying attribute properties may result in different technology choices. Standard scoring techniques ensure that attributes are not biased by subjective scoring and that weights are the primary quantitative input where subjective preferences are exercised. An expected value decision structure is adopted that considers probabilities (likelihood) that a given alternative can meet its claims; alternative decision criteria are discussed. Capital and annual costs are combined using a net present value approach. An iterative approach is advocated that allows for screening and disqualifying alternatives that do not meet minimum conditions for acceptance, such as engine warranty or U.S. Coast Guard requirements. This decision framework assists vessel operators in considering explicitly important attributes and in representing choices clearly to other stakeholders concerned about reducing air pollution from vessels. This general decision structure may also be applied similarly to other environmental controls in marine applications.

Here, we explicitly define a half-cell reaction approach for pH calculation using the electrode couple comprised of the solid-state chloride ion-selective electrode (Cl-ISE) as the reference electrode and the hydrogen ion-selective ion-sensitive field effect transistor (ISFET) of the Honeywell Durafet as the hydrogen ion H+-sensitive measuring or working electrode. This new approach splits and isolates the independent responses of the Cl-ISE to the chloride ion Cl− (and salinity) and the ISFET to H+, and calculates pH directly on the total scale pHtotalEXT in molinity (mol (kg-soln)−1) concentration units. We further apply and compare pHtotalEXT calculated using the half-cell and the existing complete cell reaction (defined by Martz et al. (2010)) approaches using measurements from two SeapHOx sensors deployed in a test tank. Salinity (on the Practical Salinity Scale) and pH oscillated between 1 and 31 and 6.9 and 8.1, respectively, over a six-day period. In contrast to established Sensor Best Practices, we employ a new calibration method where the calibration of raw pH sensor timeseries is split out as needed according to salinity. When doing this, pHtotalEXT had root-mean squared errors ranging between ±0.0026 and ± 0.0168 pH calculated using both reaction approaches relative to pHtotal of the discrete bottle samples pHtotaldisc. Our results further demonstrate the rapid response of the Cl-ISE reference to variable salinity with changes up to ±12 (30 min)−1. Final calculated pHtotalEXT were ≤ ±0.012 pH when compared to pHtotaldisc following salinity dilution or concentration. These results are notably in contrast to those of the few in situ field deployments over similar environmental conditions that demonstrated pHtotalEXT calculated using the Cl-ISE as the reference electrode had larger uncertainty in nearshore waters. Therefore, additional work beyond the correction of variable temperature and salinity conditions in pH calculation using the Cl-ISE is needed to examine the effects of other external stimuli on in situ electrode response. Furthermore, whereas past work has focused on in situ reference electrode response, greater scrutiny of the ISFET as the H+-sensitive measuring electrode for pH measurement in natural waters is also needed.

Abstract Objective The anadromous American Shad Alosa sapidissima, a once commercially important species in the mid-Atlantic region, experienced population declines due to overfishing, poor water quality, and impediments to accessing freshwater spawning habitat. Efforts at the regional and national scale substantially addressed the former two obstacles to facilitate population growth, but dam modifications or removal are still ongoing. In 2019, the state of Delaware removed the first barrier to anadromous fish passage on the Brandywine River (a tributary of the Delaware River), Dam 1. Methods A total of 24 American Shad were surgically tagged with acoustic transmitters from 2021 to 2022 above recently removed Dam 1 and tracked in the Delaware River estuary and coastal waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Result The length of available habitat increased by 1.3 km, and 75.0% of surgically tagged American Shad used historic spawning grounds in the Brandywine River following dam removal. Nine individuals exhibited long-term residency in the Brandywine River from May to June, demonstrating the importance of this newly available habitat to spawning adults. Additionally, one fish returned to the Brandywine River between years, displaying interannual spawning site fidelity and iteroparity. We also observed exploratory behavior of three additional American Shad that exited and returned to the Brandywine River within the same year. Conclusion Overall, we document a successful collaborative network via receiver array maintenance to answer questions regarding anadromous fish migration and habitat use following dam removal.

Oyster-based restoration projects, particularly living shorelines, are being installed to protect coastal ecosystems and infrastructure. While these installations often successfully create aquatic habitats, further refinement in optimizing the growth potential of shellfish on shoreline installations will increase the success rate and efficiency of restoration projects. This study evaluated the growth and mortality of two farmed strains of oyster, NEH ® (high salinity tolerant) and DBX (medium and low salinity tolerant), in the lower Delaware Bay. From July to October 2023, we monitored the growth and mortality of each strain cultured in rack-and-bag oyster aquaculture gear positioned at intertidal and subtidal environments. The effect of tidal position, temperature, salinity, and dissolved oxygen on oyster performance (average oyster length and weekly oyster mortality) was examined using Generalized Additive Models (GAMs) to determine covariate importance towards the growth and survival of both oyster strains. Our findings indicate that NEH® oysters exhibited better meat condition than DBX oysters, and significantly different average weekly shell length. Oyster weekly average shell length was influenced by average temperature and the previous week’s minimum dissolved oxygen, while weekly mortality was influenced by minimum and average salinity and minimum dissolved oxygen. Subtidal oysters exhibited greater growth and survival than intertidal oysters, suggesting the addition of subtidal design features can enhance the likelihood of success for oyster restoration projects. These results emphasize the need to select an appropriate strain based on local environmental conditions and suggest that pre-seeding selectively bred oysters into living shoreline materials is a viable option to enhance restoration efficiency. Our results aid in our understanding of identifying important physical and environmental factors that determine oyster performance and provide insights via statistical models that can be applied to inform restoration and shellfish-based living shoreline planning.

Using tags within a mark-recapture framework allows researchers to assess population size and connectivity. Such methods have been applied in coastal zone habitats to monitor salt marsh restoration success by comparing the movement patterns of Mummichogs ( Fundulus heteroclitus ) between restored and natural marshes. Visible Implant Elastomer (VIE) tags are commonly used to tag small fish like Mummichogs, though the retention and survival of small fish using this method varies between studies, producing uncertainty during mark-recapture-based approaches. To address this, we conducted a laboratory experiment to determine the rate of tag loss and mortality of VIE tags on Mummichogs of two size classes (greater or less than 61 mm) and across different taggers. Tag loss and mortality increased over time, and the latter significantly varied between taggers. We then developed a predictive model, R package ‘retmort’, to account for the effect of this increase on mark-recapture studies. When adapted to a series of published works, our model provided rational estimates of tagging error for multiple species and tagging methods. Of the case studies the model was applied to (n = 26), 15 resulted in a percent standard error greater than 5%, signaling a significant percent of error due to uncounted, tagged animals. By not accounting for these individuals, recapture studies, particularly those that assess restoration efforts and coastal resilience, could underestimate the effects of those projects, leading to superfluous restoration efforts and erroneous recapture data for species with low tag retention and high mortality rates.

Abstract The impact of recreational fisheries on marine ecosystems is often overshadowed by commercial fisheries, although recreational fishing harvest can be substantial, especially for species that are either overfished or experiencing overfishing. Delaware is a small coastal state with ~1,000,000 residents and nearly 272,000 resident and non‐resident anglers. We used publicly available data for Delaware's recreational fisheries during 1981–2021 to determine the nine most caught fish species and to evaluate trends in total numbers caught, harvested, released, and catch per unit effort (CPUE). The top nine most frequently captured fish by recreational anglers were Summer Flounder ( Paralichthys dentatus ), Atlantic Croaker ( Micropogonias undulatus ), Bluefish ( Pomatomus saltatrix ), Black Sea Bass ( Centropristis striata ), Weakfish ( Cynoscion regalis ), White Perch ( Morone americana ), Tautog ( Tautoga onitis ), Striped Bass ( Morone saxatilis ), and Spot ( Leiostomus xanthurus ). The proportion of fish released increased through time for all nine species, suggesting that the recreational fishery in Delaware is transitioning from a harvest‐oriented to a catch‐and‐release‐oriented fishery. Observations of higher release rates in recreational fisheries of Delaware are consistent with the findings elsewhere in the world for freshwater and marine systems.

Oysters are ecologically and commercially important species that require frequent monitoring to track population demographics (e.g., abundance, growth, mortality). Current methods of monitoring oyster reefs often require destructive sampling methods and extensive manual effort. However, these methods are destructive and are suboptimal for small-scale or sensitive environments. A recent alternative, the ODYSSEE model, was developed to use deep learning techniques to identify live oysters using video or images taken in the field of oyster reefs to assess abundance. The validity of this model in identifying live oysters on a reef was compared to expert and non-expert annotators. In addition, we identified potential sources of prediction error. Although the model can make inferences significantly faster than expert and non-expert annotators (39.6 s, <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" id="m1"><mml:mrow><mml:mn>2.34</mml:mn><mml:mo>±</mml:mo><mml:mn>0.61</mml:mn></mml:mrow></mml:math> h, <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" id="m2"><mml:mrow><mml:mn>4.50</mml:mn><mml:mo>±</mml:mo><mml:mn>1.46</mml:mn></mml:mrow></mml:math> h, respectively), the model overpredicted the number of live oysters, achieving lower accuracy (63%) in identifying live oysters compared to experts (74%) and non-experts (75%) alike. Image quality was an important factor in determining the accuracy of the model and annotator. Better quality images improved human accuracy and worsened model accuracy. Although ODYSSEE was not sufficiently accurate, we anticipate that future training on higher-quality images, utilizing additional live imagery, and incorporating additional annotation training classes will greatly improve the model’s predictive power based on the results of this analysis. Future research should address methods that improve the detection of living vs dead oysters.