Interesting Oyster News Lately

[Scott McGuire]

http://www.thefishsite.com/fishnews/10535/tall-reefs-helping-chesapeakes-oysters-rebound (Great Wicomico)

Fredericksburg.com - Oyster decline may bring harvesting ban (http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2009/082009/08082009/485251/index_html?page=1) (PRFC considers moratorium)

[qdrose]

Thanks for posting. This seems to show the way forward. We need a moratorium on all native oyster harvesting in the Bay, especially including attempts at reef restoration. Maryland laws should be changed to encourage oyster aquaculture. Waterman should be able to harvest all they want, as long as they plant and reap their own. I wonder if engineers could come up with an artificial reef that is inexpensive so new reefs could be planted for thousands $ instead of millions $.

[Scott McGuire]

Here's a different take on the same study:

Oyster report draws scrutiny -- dailypress.com (http://www.dailypress.com/news/dp-local_oysters_0817aug17,0,6066124.story)

And a response from the authors about the cost of restoration.

washingtonpost.com (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/14/AR2009081403112.html)

[Scott McGuire]

Also - The EIS record of decision was signed. Asian oysters are no longer a threat.

Bay 'Asian' oysters officially rejected • Environment (www.HometownAnnapolis.com - The Capital) (http://www.hometownannapolis.com/news/env/2009/08/16-55/Bay-Asian-oysters-officially-rejected.html)

[qdrose]

More interesting news:

Fredericksburg.com - NO OYSTERS LEFT? DON'T TELL THEM (http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2009/092009/09152009/493595)

[Jonny Oyster Seed]

Here's a YouTube video that compares several different restoration reefs in VA that were created as part of a study by the USACE and VIMS. Advance to the 1:30 mark to see the incredible density of oysters inhabiting the High Relief Reef study sites.

YouTube - Great Wicomico Oyster Reefs (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOS5JV-yoBc)

[paxfish]

Thanks for posting that, John - Do you know particulars aboput that site? Water depth, substrate, etc?

Thanks,

[Jonny Oyster Seed]

Thanks for posting that, John - Do you know particulars aboput that site? Water depth, substrate, etc?

Thanks,

Here's a couple of links with more information on the project by the US Army Corps of Engineers on the Great Wicomico River in Virginia:

US Army Corps of Engineers - Norfolk District (http://www.nao.usace.army.mil/oysters/Native%20Oyster%20Restoration/Wicomico.asp)

Chesapeake Bay Journal: Great Wicomico site of thriving native oyster reef - September 2009 (http://www.bayjournal.com/article.cfm?article=3648)

William & Mary - Taller reefs key to oyster restoration (http://www.wm.edu/news/stories/2009/study-shows-taller-reefs-in-large-sanctuaries-are-key-to-successful-native-oyster-restora123.php)

:thumbup:

[Patapsco Mike]

OYSTER DISEASE IS NOT A RED HERRING

D. Schulte and coworkers' Report ("Unprecedented restoration of a native oyster metapopulation," 28 August 2009, p. 1124, published online 30 July 2009) and E. Stokstad's News of the Week story "Oysters booming on new reefs, but can they survive disease?" (31 July, p. 525) both downplay the impact of disease on Crassostrea virginica in Chesapeake Bay. The impression they convey is inaccurate. Far from being a "red herring," disease continues to profoundly influence oyster population dynamics in the region.

Science/AAAS | Science Magazine: Published E-Letter responses for Schulte et al., 325 (5944) 1124-1128 (http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/eletters/325/5944/1124)

[paxfish]

Thanks for that Mike - Who wrote the quote above your link?

I think we all know that there is a high disease incidence out there. The question is, are these newer strains more resistant? Rather than whole beds getting wiped out by a particular disease, we see the Wicomico reefs thriving. No doubt the vast majority are infected. BUT the reef is building, reproducing, adding shell and a lot of it has been doing that for 5 years.

That's why I ask about the quote.

[Jonny Oyster Seed]

Ya know, probably just 10 years ago - almost everyone would have figured it impossible for Wicomico reefs to survive 4 years without succumbing to a disease...

[Patapsco Mike]

Pax- The quote is the first few sentences of the article. I should have put it in quotes...

Jon- 10 years ago the reefs would not have survived. Disease levels were much higher at that time. They put out shells when disease was low, and they got a good set. Not altogether surprising. They have a lot of healthy, young oysters on that reef now. As noted in the article, time will tell if this project ends up any different than the rest. Disease rules right now. It's down, but it is likely to come back. When it does, the reef will get put to the test. Everyone hopes it does better than other reefs, but only those directly involved are willing to stick their necks out right now and say this is somehow fundamentally different.

[paxfish]

Common sense tells me it's a reasonable approach to build these reefs with "survivors" - descendants of oysters that have forged ahead through disease. And then to concentrate them in numbers similar to the way that a historical thriving reef would look like. Over a large area. And most importantly, protecting them.

Claiming some level of success after 4 or 5 years, drought years and good, seems reasonable.

I think these project have earned some accolades so far. And they are mapping the way forward...

Finally, I'm as skeptical as the next guy about the politics of statements made by scientists. But I have it on good authority that those publishing these results are well respected in the scientific community and people of integrity.

[Patapsco Mike]

Common sense tells me it's a reasonable approach to build these reefs with "survivors" - descendants of oysters that have forged ahead through disease. And then to concentrate them in numbers similar to the way that a historical thriving reef would look like.

That's not what they did Pax. What you describe is what is being done in Maryland (shell aggregation and replacement of large survivors onto the aggregated shell followed by closing the area). What they did in VA is to dump a lot of shell and wait for a natural spat set. It's not exactly ground-breaking. They argue that it's different because they did a large percentage of the total habitat in the area, and because they piled the shell more deeply. Shell depth might or might not matter. It has been tried before without success, but perhaps in this case it was helpful. As to doing a large percentage of the total area, I agree that this is a smart move and should be done wherever possible. The problem is that it isn't possible in many areas unless you have an unlimited amount of money.

[paxfish]

That's not what they did Pax. What they did in VA is to dump a lot of shell and wait for a natural spat set.


Thanks for correcting me, Mike. I missed that important point.

In my view, that makes the outcome appear even more promising. I wonder if the comparatively cheaper MARL approach could be used here too?

[Patapsco Mike]

It can and will be done in small, high salinity systems in MD. Think St. Mary's River, Little Choptank, etc. You need a reliable spat set to make it work, obviously. In the lower salinity areas you will also need to boost the local populations to get the needed spat sets.

In order to do this, we'll need shell. This is why I feel it's a shame the big fishing advocacy groups in MD are trying so hard to prevent dredging. Done responsibly, it can be a win/win. I recognize the legacy of distrust, but things are different now. Give it time, you will see.

[paxfish]

Sounds Great!

MGO is a decent program, and CCA is supporting it. What else is coming down the pike? What is the comprehensive oyster strategy?

Folks are past the faith stage though. It's "show me" time.