Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station[Haskin Shellfish Research Laboratory]

Maurice River Oyster Culture Foundation

The Maurice River Oyster Culture Foundation (MROCF) is a non-profit consortium of shellfish culturists and processors that was established in 1987 by members of the local oyster industry. Its primary mission has been to investigate, develop and apply new technologies to preserve and enhance the shellfish industry of Delaware Bay.  From the outset, the MROCF has maintained a collaborative relationship with the Haskin Shellfish Research Laboratory, the DEP Bureau of Shellfisheries, the NJ Department of Health, as well as other public and non-profit entities. The Foundation has been supported in its projects by the industry members via contributions of labor, vessels, and landside facilities and equipment, in addition to direct financial aid.  Other initiatives to foster development and modernization of aquatic resource utilization have included the following:

  • assistance to  processors in developing protocols to preserve and improve product quality,
  • remediation of shellfish processing effluent,
  • facilitation of information exchange among the producers, the general public and the technology/research communities,
  • participation in technical committees addressing development of  guidelines for national and international shellfish sanitation programs,
  • support  of activities of the New Jersey Aquaculture Association
  • development and technical feasibility  projects in other areas of aquaculture, including finfish culture. 

MROCF Project Coordinator, W.J. Canzonier, has over 50 years experience in aquatic species culture.


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