Regional & Specialty
Aquaculture, Shellfish & Fisheries Organizations
The groups that represent New York’s oyster, clam, and fish farmers and its commercial fishermen, and where to turn for help getting started.
Groups in New York
- Long Island Oyster Growers Association (LIOGA) is the grower-run group for Long Island’s shellfish and seaweed farmers. Cornell reports that most of the island’s shellfish farmers belong, and it speaks for them on regulations, access to the water, and markets.
- Long Island Commercial Fishing Association is a nonprofit that represents commercial fishermen of every gear type across Long Island on fisheries rules, harbors, and offshore wind.
- New York doesn’t have a statewide aquaculture association right now. Until it does, the New York Farm Bureau advocates for aquaculture alongside the rest of agriculture, and it helped shape the Suffolk County shellfish lease program.
Regional & National Groups
- East Coast Shellfish Growers Association represents shellfish farmers from Maine to Florida, including New York, on federal policy, food safety, and markets.
- U.S. Trout Farmers Association is the national group for trout farms. Trout make up most of New York’s upstate fish farming.
- National Aquaculture Association is the national umbrella group for every kind of farmed seafood, from oysters to fish.
Help Getting Started
- New York Sea Grant’s aquaculture specialist helps new growers with permits and can set up meetings with DEC.
- Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County runs the Long Island marine program, including the low-cost SPAT oyster gardening program where you can learn hands-on.
- The state Department of Agriculture and Markets keeps an aquaculture and seafood page with funding, permits, and a seafood coordinator you can email. Its Long Island Aquaculture Infrastructure Grant closed in January 2026, so watch that page for future rounds.
Benefits for Veterans
- Shellfish growers can get USDA shellfish crop insurance through a private agent, with extra savings for veterans.
- Where crop insurance isn’t available, NAP disaster coverage covers aquaculture with no service fee for veterans, and ELAP pays higher rates to veterans on some fish losses.
- Work Vessels for Veterans has given injured veterans boats and equipment to start businesses, including shellfish farming. FSA farm loans can also be used for aquaculture. See all USDA veteran benefits.
Sources: NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets aquaculture and seafood page; New York Sea Grant aquaculture program; Cornell aquaculture resources.
