Gulf Shellfish Institute, Inc.
Gulf Shellfish Institute is a Florida-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that facilitates shellfish production in Florida and the Gulf region through research, oyster reef restoration, and a coalition of 16+ university, government, and industry partners.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersPalmetto, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Gulf Shellfish Institute, Inc. does
Gulf Shellfish Institute, Inc. is a Florida-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in December 2015 that works to facilitate shellfish production in Florida and the broader Gulf region for joint economic and environmental benefit. The organization focuses on oyster reef restoration, shellfish species research (including oyster, hard clam, and sunray venus clam), and the study of ecological interactions such as those between clams and seagrass. Its deliverables take the form of research publications, fact sheets, and workshops rather than commercial products or services.
The Institute operates with a small staff (1-10 employees) led by Executive Director Bruce Barber, Ph.D., who brings more than 30 years of shellfish aquaculture research experience, and supplemented by postdoctoral research capacity. It sustains its work through a coalition of more than 16 partners spanning universities, state and federal government agencies, regional estuary programs, and industry stakeholders (e.g., Bay Shellfish Co., Chiles Restaurant Group). Funded research programs to date have included projects supported by the Aquaculture Research Council and the Tampa Bay Environmental Restoration Fund.
The business model is grant-funded nonprofit research and convening. Revenue is sourced from restricted and unrestricted grants awarded by government bodies, environmental restoration funds, and academic partners, with no commercial product lines, licensing revenue, or fee-for-service offerings. The Institute's value proposition is concentrated scientific expertise married to a multi-stakeholder network that can marshal resources for habitat restoration and aquaculture development in the Gulf region.
Gulf Shellfish Institute, Inc. firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Gulf Shellfish Institute, Inc.
- Legal name
- Gulf Shellfish Institute, Inc.
- Website
- https://gulfshellfishinstitute.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Gulf Shellfish Institute is a Florida-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that facilitates shellfish production in Florida and the Gulf region through research, oyster reef restoration, and a coalition of 16+ university, government, and industry partners.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Gulf Shellfish Institute, Inc. industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Aquaculture Research Services
- NAICS
- Shellfish Farming (112512), Aquaculture (11251), Aquaculture (1125)
- SIC
- Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Fishing, Hunting And Trapping (900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Marine Shellfish Farming (e.g., oysters, mussels, clams) (AFAEAAAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Marine & Freshwater Conservation (BPAGAGAE), Aquaculture Health, Biosecurity & Veterinary Services (AFAEAAAK), Oceans, Coastal & Marine Resource Management (BPADALAI)
Keywords
Where Gulf Shellfish Institute, Inc. is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Palmetto
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Gulf Shellfish Institute, Inc. business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Grant Funding: GSI is a Florida Not for Profit Corporation with 501(c)(3) tax exempt status. Revenue comes primarily from grants and funding from organizations such as Tampa Bay Estuary Program, Tampa Bay Environmental Restoration Fund, Aquaculture Research Council of Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and other government and environmental organizations.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels3 records
Gulf Shellfish Institute, Inc. product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Gulf Shellfish Institute, Inc. conducts cooperative, industry-driven applied scientific research on shellfish biology, aquaculture, and coastal ecosystem restoration, primarily serving shellfish producers, academic institutions, and government/environmental agencies in Florida and the Gulf region. It delivers its outputs as research publications (fact sheets on quahogs, oysters, scallops), research reports on species reproduction, oyster spat settlement, and clam-seagrass interactions, and an annual Clam Restoration Workshop. The institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit funded by grants and supported by partnerships with universities, estuary programs, and shellfish industry associations.
Product overview
Gulf Shellfish Institute, Inc. is a nonprofit research organization focused on shellfish and coastal sustainability, not a technology product company. Its offerings consist of educational fact sheets on shellfish species (Quahog Fact Sheet, Oyster Fact Sheet, Scallop Fact Sheet) and research reports documenting studies on oyster spat settlement, clams and seagrass facilitation, and sunray venus reproduction. The institute also provides an annual Clam Restoration Workshop. These are informational and educational resources rather than software products or technology platforms.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Quahog Fact Sheet Educational fact sheet providing basic information about the southern quahog (Mercenaria camapechiensis), available as a downloadable PDF for industry partners, researchers, and the public.
- Oyster Fact Sheet Educational fact sheet providing basic information about the eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica), distributed as a downloadable PDF for industry partners, researchers, and the public.
- Scallop Fact Sheet Educational fact sheet providing basic information about the bay scallop (Argopecten irradians), distributed as a downloadable PDF for industry partners, researchers, and the public.
- Sunray Venus Reproduction Research Peer-reviewed research report (Barber 2017, Journal of Shellfish Research 36:55-60) on gametogenesis in the sunray venus clam (Macrocallista nimbosa) in west central Florida in relation to temperature and food supply, published as a downloadable PDF.
- Oyster Spat Settlement Research Internal research report (GSI RR-18-001, Barber 2018) on seasonal settlement of eastern oysters (Crassostrea virginica) on fresh versus fossil shells at Robinson Preserve, Manatee County, Florida, available as a downloadable PDF.
- Clams and Seagrass Research Internal research report (GSI RR-19-001, Barber 2018) on facilitation of seagrass productivity in Tampa Bay using the indigenous suspension-feeding bivalve Mercenaria campechiensis, available as a downloadable PDF.
- Clam Restoration Workshop Workshop event summarizing the latest information on ecological services provided by marine clams (e.g., Mercenaria spp.) and the quantification of those services, with research needs for future clam restoration efforts throughout Florida; includes presentations, materials, and speaker biographies distributed to participants.
Quantifiable outcome
- 132 farms in Florida produced $19.6 million worth of shellfish in 2013
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Gulf Shellfish Institute, Inc.
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Gulf Shellfish Institute, Inc. technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Gulf Shellfish Institute, Inc. partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
18 partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Manatee County Parks and Natural ResourcescoreCollaborates on shellfish restoration and environmental research projects in Manatee County, Florida.
- Port ManateecorePartner in clams-and-seagrass project and collaborates on regional shellfish initiatives.
- University of Florida IFAS ExtensioncoreAcademic partner providing research support and extension services for aquaculture programs.
- Florida Sea GrantcoreAdvisory board membership and collaborative research on marine and coastal issues.
- University of South FloridacoreAcademic partner providing research facilities and expertise for shellfish studies.
- Eckerd CollegecoreAcademic partner where Executive Director Bruce Barber conducted recent research; collaborator on clams-and-seagrass project.
- FWC/Fish and Wildlife Research InstitutecoreGovernment research partner for fish and wildlife conservation studies.
- Florida Division of AquaculturecoreState government partner supporting aquaculture development and regulation.
- Solutions To Avoid Red Tide/STARTcoreCollaborator on oyster spatfall project; focuses on environmental solutions to red tide issues.
- Mote Marine LabcoreMarine research institution collaborating on shellfish and coastal sustainability research.
- Tampa Bay Estuary ProgramcorePrimary funder for oyster spatfall project; collaborates on bay restoration initiatives.
- Sarasota Bay Estuary ProgramcoreCollaborates on estuary restoration and water quality research.
- Charlotte Harbor Estuary ProgramcoreCollaborates on estuary research and restoration programs.
- Sarasota Bay WatchcoreAdvisory board membership and collaboration on coastal conservation efforts.
- Southwest Florida Shellfish AssociationcoreIndustry association partner representing shellfish producers in the region.
- Florida Shellfish Aquaculture AssociationcoreIndustry association partner with board representation from GSI leadership.
- Bay Shellfish Co.corePartner on clams-and-seagrass and sunray venus research projects; commercial shellfish company providing industry perspective.
- Chiles Restaurant GroupcoreCollaborator on oyster reef restoration project providing restaurant shell collection for restoration efforts.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights8 records
Gulf Shellfish Institute, Inc. competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS): William & Mary's dedicated coastal and marine research institute, with deep expertise in shellfish aquaculture, oyster reef restoration, and fisheries biology. Comparable as an applied marine research organization with shellfish-focused programs; Executive Director Bruce Barber previously served on its faculty.
- Mote Marine Laboratory: Independent marine research institution based in Sarasota, Florida that conducts applied research on shellfish, coastal ecosystems, and red tide mitigation. Directly comparable as a regional marine science nonprofit that collaborates with GSI on shellfish and coastal sustainability projects.
- Pacific Shellfish Institute: Pacific Northwest-based nonprofit that conducts research, education, and outreach to support sustainable shellfish farming. Directly comparable as a nonprofit, industry-driven shellfish research organization with a similar mission and stakeholder model, but operating in a different U.S. region.
- University of Maine — Aquaculture Research Institute: University-based applied aquaculture research program that conducts shellfish and finfish research supporting regional industry. Comparable in its focus on applied shellfish science and industry partnership; Bruce Barber previously conducted research here.
- Rutgers Shellfish Laboratory: Rutgers University's dedicated shellfish research laboratory focused on hard clam and oyster aquaculture along the U.S. East Coast. Comparable as an applied shellfish research outfit supporting industry; Bruce Barber previously served on its faculty.
Broad incumbents
- Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute (FAU): Florida Atlantic University's oceanographic research institute with broad aquaculture, marine biology, and ocean engineering programs. Comparable in its applied marine research focus within Florida, but operates as a much larger university-based entity with broader scientific scope.
- Florida Sea Grant: State university-based program supporting coastal research, extension, and education. Directly comparable as a funder and collaborator with overlapping aquaculture research priorities; GSI board member Angela Colins is a Florida Sea Grant agent.
Regional players
- Tampa Bay Watch: Tampa Bay-based nonprofit focused on bay habitat restoration, including oyster reef construction and community-based stewardship. Comparable as a regional restoration nonprofit partner in the Tampa Bay ecosystem, though more hands-on restoration-focused rather than research-driven.
Market position
Strengths3 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Gulf Shellfish Institute, Inc. social profiles
Digital presenceGulf Shellfish Institute, Inc. financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Gulf Shellfish Institute, Inc. leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Gulf Shellfish Institute, Inc. funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Gulf Shellfish Institute, Inc. M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Gulf Shellfish Institute, Inc.
What does Gulf Shellfish Institute, Inc. do?
Gulf Shellfish Institute, Inc. conducts cooperative, industry-driven applied scientific research on shellfish biology, aquaculture, and coastal ecosystem restoration, primarily serving shellfish producers, academic institutions, and government/environmental agencies in Florida and the Gulf region. It delivers its outputs as research publications (fact sheets on quahogs, oysters, scallops), research reports on species reproduction, oyster spat settlement, and clam-seagrass interactions, and an annual Clam Restoration Workshop. The institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit funded by grants and supported by partnerships with universities, estuary programs, and shellfish industry associations.
Is Gulf Shellfish Institute, Inc. a public or private company?
Gulf Shellfish Institute, Inc. is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Gulf Shellfish Institute, Inc. founded?
Gulf Shellfish Institute, Inc. was founded in 2015. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Gulf Shellfish Institute, Inc. based?
Gulf Shellfish Institute, Inc. is headquartered in Palmetto, United States, in the North America region.
How does Gulf Shellfish Institute, Inc. make money?
One revenue line is on record: grant Funding.
Who are Gulf Shellfish Institute, Inc.'s main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS), Mote Marine Laboratory, Pacific Shellfish Institute, University of Maine — Aquaculture Research Institute and Rutgers Shellfish Laboratory. Broad incumbents are Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute (FAU) and Florida Sea Grant. Tampa Bay Watch is listed as a regional player.
Does Gulf Shellfish Institute, Inc. have an API?
No public API is recorded for Gulf Shellfish Institute, Inc..
What industry is Gulf Shellfish Institute, Inc. in?
Gulf Shellfish Institute, Inc.'s product category is Aquaculture Research Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAEAAAB, Marine Shellfish Farming (e.g., oysters, mussels, clams), with a secondary code of BPAGAGAE, Marine & Freshwater Conservation. Its NAICS code is 112512 and its SIC code is 8731.