New plan to Build on Efforts to Restore the Chesapeake Bay, Expand Oyster Sanctuaries and Aquaculture leasing opportunities
ANNAPOLIS, MD — Governor Martin O’Malley today released the details of Maryland’s Proposed Oyster Restoration and Aquaculture Development Plan, a new multi-faceted effort to rebuild Maryland’s decimated native oyster population. The plan will build on efforts to restore the Chesapeake Bay and expand oyster sanctuaries and aquaculture leasing opportunities. Joined by scientists, environmental advocates, aquaculture entrepreneurs, industry representatives, recreational fishermen and State officials, the Governor made the announcement at the Annapolis Maritime Museum, the former site of Annapolis’ last shellfish packing business, McNasby’s Oyster Company, which closed in 1987.
“Today we are announcing a 3-step plan that will simultaneously help us restore the Chesapeake Bay, bring back our native oyster, and create new jobs and economic activity in our state,” said Governor O’Malley. “Our native oyster is part of the public trust, and we have a clear and urgent responsibility to restore this iconic species to the Chesapeake Bay. Today marks a critical next step in our efforts to rebuild the population for ecological and economic benefits. By some projections, today’s actions could contribute as much as $25 million to Maryland’s economy and create over 200 jobs.”
“Governor O’Malley is proposing to do for oysters what he did for blue crabs. Bravo. This plan will bring more oysters to the Bay. That will be good for the ecology and good for the economy. Oyster lovers will benefit and so will the seafood industry, with more jobs and prosperity. What a win for everyone," said Will Baker, president of CBF.
The plan is designed to enhance oyster restoration for ecological purposes and encourage the development of aquaculture businesses, while continuing to support a more targeted and sustainable public oyster fishery. As proposed, it will:
Significantly increase Maryland’s network of oyster sanctuaries — from 9% to 24% of remaining quality habitat — as well as the State’s ability to enforce them. Sanctuaries allow oysters to live longer, spawn without harvest pressure and, over time, develop natural resistance to disease.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is also undertaking a number of enforcement reforms, including a collaborative effort with federal partners to install a network of radars and cameras that will help Natural Resources Police monitor oyster sanctuaries and prevent poaching.
Increase areas open to leasing for oyster aquaculture and streamline the permitting process. This is based on the legislation Governor O’Malley sponsored in 2009, and will include the opening of 95,524 acres of natural oyster bars to leasing.
Identify areas off limits to leasing. This proposal will maintain 167,720 acres of natural oyster bars for the wild oyster fishery, including 76% of the Bay’s remaining quality oyster habitat. This will allow for continued support of a more targeted, sustainable, and scientifically managed public oyster fishery.
“By opening up these areas for oyster aquaculture, we estimate there could be up to 150 oyster aquaculture operations in Maryland in the short term — more if we can expand the market for Maryland oysters,” explained the Governor.
In January Governor O’Malley sponsored aquaculture legislation to streamline the regulatory process and open new areas to leasing to promote growth of that industry, lessen pressure on wild oysters and provide alternative economic opportunities for watermen. This legislation was developed with broad stakeholder involvement and passed overwhelmingly in the General Assembly this year. Aquaculture is now the predominant means of shellfish harvesting around the world.
“Maryland is the steward of the Chesapeake Bay and we need to continue to act to protect our State's crown jewel,” said Speaker Michael E. Busch. “The Governor and the General Assembly have taken substantial steps to protect the Chesapeake Bay and this is another important way to return the Bay to its full prosperity.”
Since 1994, the Chesapeake Bay’s oyster population has languished at one percent of historic levels; quality oyster bars have decreased 70% from 200,000 to 36,000 (70% decrease) and the number of harvesters has dwindled from 2,000 in the mid 1980s to just over 500 annually since 2002. Today there are only eight oyster processing companies in Maryland, down from 58 in 1974.
The plan is built on the findings of a six-year Environmental Impact Study of oyster restoration options, and the work of the Oyster Advisory Commission and the Aquaculture Coordinating Council.
“The plan takes major steps in the right direction of rebuilding the native oyster populations, restoring the ecological benefits of their reefs, and transitioning economic production to aquaculture,” said Dr. Donald Boesch, President of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science and a member of the Oyster Advisory Commission said. As such, it is consistent with the consensus of university scientists, as well as the Advisory Commission that large sanctuary areas and improved opportunities for privatized oyster production are required.”
“Today’s announcement is taking a significant step forward to dramatically enhance our oyster population. Not unlike the 40 stakeholder groups who participated in the 1993 Oyster Roundtable, many of these same groups will need to work together again to establish and successfully implement a balanced strategy to return the oyster to its economic, ecologic and cultural importance to Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay," said Ken Binnix, founding chairman and current Board of Directors member of the now 15-year-old Oyster Recovery Partnership, the facilitating organization for oyster restoration in Maryland
“Today’s announcement launches an extensive public outreach process designed to give all stakeholders as well as the general public ample opportunity understand and offer input on this proposal before February, when our plan will be proposed in regulation,” said DNR Secretary John Griffin.
“When the Governor visited us last year he readily understood the benefits that shellfish aquaculture brings to economic growth and employment while aiding the environment through bio-filtration and nutrient transfer,” said Steve Gordon, operator of Gordon’s Shellfish in Snow Hill. “We’ve seen shellfish aquaculture growing across the country. Maryland has good growing areas, access to markets and now, strong support from the highest levels of government.”
“If we are ever to achieve our goal for a revitalized oyster population we must act now, and science tells us that this is the best way to begin rebuilding a sustainable, robust population,’’ said Governor O’Malley. “With the continued leadership of Senator Barbara Mikulski and our Congressional Delegation, as well as our State Legislature — who together have been instrumental in securing federal blue crab disaster funds and state capital funds — we will change the future for our native oyster and the Chesapeake Bay.”
The proposal and additional information are available online at www.dnr.maryland.gov/fisheries.
A waste of money. Unless you fix the major causes of oyster declines (pollution, disease, invasive species) you are wasting money with aquaculture, sanctuaries, and "seeding" of the Bay with broodstock.
ReplyDeleteI'm 66 years old and have been listening to this BS for years.
ReplyDeleteBeing a waterman , I've watched the resource decline. The farmers
are polluting the waters with run-off , the homes are polluting the waters with run-off. Chicken crap has a large amount of nitrogen , this is the poison that has caused the most damage. These guys are wasting OUR money again!
Wayne
Hey South Point property owners- WAKE UP!!! Governor O'Malley wants to put a 1,000 acre aquaculture enterprise zone just off our shore. Imagine 1,000 acres of PVC pipe floating in the bay- sounds beautiful, huh. Looks like the Gov doesn't want to face any of us though. Open houses and public forums have been scheduled for several MD counties but not Worcester.
ReplyDeleteWayne and Others,
ReplyDeleteI might get into hot water from a few friends of mine, but here's my take. A certain percentage of Oysters are affected by Dermo and MSX. These two diseases do NOT have a 100% kill rate. While I am no fan of O'malley, increasing the SHEER amount of Oysters in the bay IS a PART of the solution. As a waterman I hear you complain about the chicken farmer, but there is almost 100% compliance with our nutrient mangement plans. I didn't hear you mention anything about overharvest and the actual destruction of our beds when the Oysters were gone. The beds or reefs were actually removed to help build roads at one time, at your age you may rememeber this. The Rebuilding of some of those structures MAY be a key. The so called run off from those of us with septic systems has not been able to be ACCURATELY quantified, to the best of my knowledge. What is NOT being discussed is the affect of the point sources that are constantly being released by local municipilities whenever it rains. These are our sewage plants. This factor has been ignored by so many of our local kayaking government apologists. Think of the MILLIONS of gallons of sewage that has been dumped into the Wicomico by their own treatment plant. I could get into erosion and sedimentation and bio logs vs revetment but it would take awhile.
Wild, I agree with your overall point. But I must rebut your statement on disease. As in any population, increasing the number of oysters, as well as density, can actually increase infection rates. Especially if the released oysters are not "genetically fit" to face the disease. Now, I'm sure researchers are mindful of the gentics of the broodstock used, but there are a host of issues that arise when you are introducing farmed animals into the wild.
ReplyDeleteI am a licensed oysterman on the chesapeake and have been working the bay for 25 years.. I have never seen as many oysters in our bay as I have seen in the past 3 years...from spat to oysters as big as your hand,they are plentifull..Scientist say what they want everyone to believe, the bay is over polluted. Thats just not so. There were plentifull crabs this summer and oysters are flourishing. The state is just taking away our way of life. Very sad
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