Norfolk, VA (October 13, 2025) – Old Dominion University (ODU) and William & Mary’s Batten School & VIMS and Institute for Integrative Conservation have been awarded competitive funding from a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Sea Grant to advance sustainable aquaculture through an innovative bird deterrence project for oyster farms.
The proposal, Innovative Avian Deterrence Strategies for Sustainable Aquaculture, is a university collaborative initiative that addresses the challenges in managing bird interactions with shellfish farming that threaten both farm productivity and environmental health.
This project unites the expertise of:
ODU’s Office of Enterprise Research and Innovation (OERI) with the Virginia Institute for Spaceflight and Autonomy (VISA) — leading the development of autonomous systems, artificial intelligence, and maritime technology.
W&M’s Batten School of Coastal & Marine Sciences & VIMS— bringing aquaculture knowledge and direct engagement with oyster farmers through their Commercial Shellfish Aquaculture Lab & Team (C-SALT).
W&M’s Institute for Integrative Conservation — contributing bird ecology insights and conservation expertise.
Together, the partners will design, test, and implement an avian deterrent system that integrates technologies such as: Sonic-Net acoustic technology, semi-autonomous boats, listening devices, AI-driven cameras, and more. The goal is to reduce and deter bird roosting on and near oyster farms while safeguarding ecosystems and ensuring compliance with national shellfish sanitation standards.
“This project demonstrates the power of collaboration across institutions,” said John Shull, Principal Investigator at ODU. “By combining aquaculture expertise, conservation science, and technological innovation, we are creating solutions that work for farmers, regulators, and the environment.”
Field trials will take place at the Batten School & VIMS’ C-SALT research farm before expanding and opening up information to commercial farm opportunities within Virginia and the rest of the Mid-Atlantic region. These findings will further empower Virginia’s thriving shellfish industry — already ranked first on the East Coast in oyster production — to adopt more efficient, data-driven practices (2023 Virginia Seafood Industry Report). Findings will be shared widely with aquaculture stakeholders, educators, open-source community, the public through workshops, publications, and outreach led by Sea Grant extension specialists. The project runs through the 2027 farming season.
This initiative hopes to highlight how U.S.-driven innovation and next-generation AI can come together to deliver practical, forward-looking solutions that empower farmers and promote sustainability.
For any additional information please reach out to John Shull at JShull@odu.edu.
About ODU Office of Enterprise Research and Innovation:
The Old Dominion University’s Office of Enterprise Research and Innovation (OERI) is the University’s largest division of research. OERI unifies and focuses the advanced research of six distinct and diverse multidisciplinary applied research centers. OERI also manages a robust portfolio of contracts and leads ODU’s engagement in several formal partnerships such as the Systems Engineering Research Center (SERC). Partnership with the SERC provides ODU faculty a pathway to collaborate with researchers at other SERC universities and allows opportunities for the University to contract work with the DoD and other federal agency sponsors.
About the Virginia Institute for Spaceflight & Autonomy:
As part of ODU’s Office of Enterprise Research and Innovation (OERI), the Virginia Institute for Spaceflight & Autonomy (VISA) is chartered to grow the entrepreneurial ecosystems for spaceflight and autonomy. VISA’s vision is to create an environment of research, technology, commercialization and educational opportunities to grow the spaceflight and autonomous systems industry through industry, academic and governmental agency partnerships.
Concept rendering of the integrated avian deterrence system showing cameras, Sonic-Net arrays,
and semi- autonomous monitoring platforms
Brown pelicans and cormorants roosting on oyster gear at the VIMS research farm, highlighting
the aftermath of the need for deterrent strategies.
Herring Gulls resting on floating oyster gear at the VIMS research farm.
*Visualization of the deterrence framework in action, with targeted deterrent zones (Deter)
and safe avoidance zones (Avoid).