March 27, 2026 — Researchers at the University of Maine have developed a tool using satellite data to predict which farming sites may result in the fastest growth rates for eastern oysters to reach market size.
In a study published in January, researchers combined data from Landsat 8 and 9 – a joint National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and U.S. Geological Survey mission that records sea surface temperature – with European Sentinel-2 satellite estimates of oyster food availability made through chlorophyll-a and particulate organic matter (POM) measurements to model growth and predict the time required for eastern oysters (Crassostrea virginica) to reach market size in Maine’s nearshore waters.