The Lagvanec Lecture - Louisiana's Commercial Oyster Industry

Cyril Lagvanec, PhD, the curator of the American-Italian Research Library located on the second floor of the East Bank Regional Library, will give a lecture on Louisiana’s commercial oyster business at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 21, at the East Bank Regional Library, 4747 W. Napoleon, Metairie.

This event is free of charge and open to the public. Registration is not required.

Al Sunseri, president and owner of P & J Oysters, will be on hand to help present the material and answer questions. He will also provide most of the photos and newspaper articles.

Louisiana is the top commercial oyster producer in the United States, with a harvest exceeding 11 million pounds in 2015. The oyster industry generates significant economic impact, estimated at $317 million annually, and employs over 3,500 people. 

Louisiana oysters are a significant part of the state's culture, economy, and environment, and are known for their unique flavor and the important role they play in coastal ecosystems. In Louisiana, oystermen fish public oyster grounds for seed oysters (less than three inches) and transplant them to private leases for cultivation and future harvest. They also harvest market-size oysters (three inches or larger) from public grounds.

Most of Louisiana’s total oyster harvest comes from private leases, but many of these oysters began their lives as seed oysters on public grounds. In fact, a boat load of seed oysters cultivated on a lease produces an estimated two to three boat loads of marketable oysters. This successful public-private partnership helps Louisiana continue to lead the nation in oyster production year after year.