Rex Caffey

Professor | Director of Marine Extension, Louisiana Sea Grant Louisiana State University

  • Baton Rouge LA

Dr. Caffey conducts research related to the economic and policy challenges of fisheries and coastal wetlands in the Gulf of Mexico region.

Contact

Louisiana State University

View more experts managed by Louisiana State University

Biography

Dr. Rex H. Caffey is a Professor of Natural Resource Economics at Louisiana State University with a joint appointment in the LSU Agricultural Center and the Louisiana Sea Grant College Program. He is the founding director of the LSU Center for Natural Resource Economics & Policy - a research and extension cooperative with more than 30 active members from 12 institutions across the U.S. The center’s campus-based projects, funded at $13.6 million by 47 public and private sources, have led to its emergence as a primary source of socioeconomic expertise in coastal systems. Dr. Caffey also serves as Director of Marine Extension for Louisiana Sea Grant. This team of 18 coastal agents and specialists has been the state’s primary network for marine advisory programming since 1968. For the past 25 years he has conducted applied research and extension programming related to the economic and policy challenges of fisheries and coastal wetlands in the northern Gulf of Mexico region.

Areas of Expertise

Marine Extension Administration
Coastal Restoration Economics
Ecosystem Service Valuation
Fisheries Management
Benefit-Cost Analysis
Project Feasibility

Research Focus

Fisheries Economics & Ecosystem Services Valuation

Dr. Caffey’s research focuses on coastal and marine resource economics—fisheries, aquaculture, and the valuation of ecosystem services linked to Gulf Coast restoration. He blends geospatial market analysis, bioeconomic and cost-benefit modeling, and stakeholder surveys to price natural assets, steer aquaculture policy, and optimize investments in coastal protection and seafood supply chains.

Spotlight

3 min

Are raw oysters safe to eat? A seafood expert has answers

Two people recently died in Louisiana after eating raw Gulf oysters contaminated with the flesh-eating bacteria Vibrio vulnificus. Now that we have returned to the “r” months of autumn, a period historically considered safer to consume the mollusks on the half shell, seafood lovers are rightfully on edge about enjoying what many consider a saltwater delicacy. Evelyn Watts, a seafood extension specialist with the LSU AgCenter and Louisiana Sea Grant, has spent the better part of her adult life working with the seafood industry on the best ways to process and work through regulations about their catches. She wants to set the record straight about the safety of eating Gulf oysters throughout the year. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, vibrio is a type of bacteria that thrives in warm, brackish waters, especially between May and October. Watts said that while Louisiana is observing some above-average cases, it is important to remember that vibrio is a seasonal pathogen with most infection cases linked to wound exposure or ingestion. On July 31, the Louisiana Department of Health reported four deaths and 17 hospitalizations from vibrio infections this year. The number of hospitalizations had risen to 22 as of the last week of August. Watts emphasized safe handling and cooking of all Louisiana seafood. Thoroughly cooking oysters and other shellfish eliminates any vibrio risk, she said. “The Louisiana seafood industry follows strict safety protocols, including cold-chain management and traceability systems, which includes the use of tags,” she said. “The tag color indicates if harvest refrigeration times have been followed.” Watts said white-tagged oysters may be consumed raw while those with green tags must be sold for processing and cannot be purchased for raw consumption. “Restaurants are required to post consumer advisories about raw shellfish risks, especially for those with liver disease or weakened immune systems,” she said. “Consumers may purchase oysters either as shellstock — live molluscan shellfish still in the shell — or shucked, where the meat has been removed from the shell.” Watts explained that if consumers intend to purchase shellstock oysters for raw consumption, they must look for the white tag, which confirms the product has followed proper refrigeration protocols. This tag includes key information such as the harvester’s name, the dealer’s name and address, certification number, date of harvest and harvest location. Conversely, pre-shucked oysters or half-shell oysters sold in tubs, bags or trays — whether refrigerated or frozen — are not intended for raw consumption unless the label explicitly states otherwise. “While vibrio is more common in warmer months, it’s important to remember that it can be present year-round," Watts said. "The good news is that by staying informed and choosing properly cooked oysters, consumers can enjoy seafood safely in any season.” According to LSU AgCenter and Louisiana Sea Grant economist Rex Caffey, oysters are the third-most lucrative seafood commodity in the state, behind shrimp and crab. Thus, the recent uptick in illnesses could adversely affect the state’s economy if the public isn’t properly informed on how to mitigate potential infections. “Louisiana is the national leader in oyster production and accounts for more than 75% of Gulf oyster landings,” Caffey said. “The value of Louisiana’s oyster crop has varied in recent years, with an average of $65 million annually from 2022 to 2024.” For additional information about oysters as it relates to handling and production, Watts suggests visiting https://louisianadirectseafood.com/oyster/. Article originally posted here

Rex Caffey

Education

Louisiana State University

Ph.D.

Wildlife and Fisheries Science

1998

Louisiana State University

M.S.

Natural Resource Economics

1994

Louisiana State University

B.S.

Agricultural Business

1988

Media Appearances

Report: Hurricanes cost commercial fishing and seafood sectors $580 million

National Fisherman  online

2022-01-18

Dr. Rex Caffey of LSU Sea Grant led the team that compiled information for the “Infrastructure, Revenue and Resource Losses to Louisiana Fisheries From the Hurricanes of 2020 and 2021” report after a request by the Louisiana Fishing Community Recovery Coalition. The coalition is comprised of members from every aspect of the state’s seafood industry, as well as members of state and federal offices.

View More

Articles

Mixed-mode surveys reveal shared regulatory preferences in an overfished recreational fishery

Human Dimensions of Wildlife

2025

Population declines of spotted seatrout Cynoscion nebulosus have reached levels that warrant management action in Louisiana, USA waters. As regulatory adjustments are necessary to recover the stock, we evaluated the viability of recovery options while gathering preference data from respondents through three survey modes. The modes applied were: (1) a series of public scoping meetings, (2) a probability-based sample of fishing license-holders, and (3) an open-access online survey. Among survey modes, significant differences were seen in avidity, typical harvest, and perceptions of the fishery, indicating that we captured responses from three distinct user groups. Despite these differences, several common themes emerged among all three survey types.

View more

Economic analysis of off-bottom oyster culture

Aquaculture Economics & Management

2024

We analyze costs, break-even prices, and profits for multiple scales of operation of an off-bottom oyster culture operation, ranging from 27,000 oysters planted on half an acre to 1.28 million oysters planted on four acres. The analysis focuses on the first five years of operation and accounts for factors such as operation startup, periodic adverse environmental conditions, variations in stocking and mortality rates, method of sale, and price to grower. We estimate total annual cost, including depreciation and interest on invested capital, labor, fuel, seed, and other expenses, to range from approximately $50,000 to operate a single line of floating bags to approximately $250,000 to operate twenty-four lines.

View more

The economics of sediment quality on barrier shoreline restoration

Journal of Environmental Management

2022

This paper depicts a simulation-based assessment of sediment quality on the performance of dedicated dredging projects for barrier island restoration in coastal Louisiana, USA. The research involved the development and integration of two sub-models. In the first, geomorphic modeling was used to simulate sediment transport dynamics within a proxy barrier island template over a 50-year trajectory. The template was assumed to be nourished with one of two sources of dredged material: nearshore (NS) sediments of lower quality (smaller grain diameter, higher organic fines); or higher quality sediments from distal sources located on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). In the second model, agency project records and commercial bids were used to estimate project construction costs as a function of dredge material quantity, transport distance, and project target elevation.

View more

Show All +