Asian Oysters and the Chesapeake Bay

Transcription

1 Asian Oysters and the Chesapeake Bay Ben Shlansky Lea Heffernan Linda Schwaber Nah Van Gilder T intrduce r nt t intrduce? 1

2 Histry f the Chesapeake Oyster Fishery The increased efficiency f yster harvesting equipment quickly lead t a decrease in yster ppulatins Rakes and Hand Tngs nysc/tls.asp By 1865 dredges were legalized and hydraulic patent tngs were invented Oyster catches increased frm 8-25 bushels/day using hand tngs t bushels/day using patent tngs (Jhnsn, 1988). 2

3 Histry f the Chesapeake Oyster Fishery the Eastern yster ppulatins in the Chesapeake were hit with the disease MSX, caused by the prtzan parasite Haplspridium nelsni. Arriving first in the lwer Chesapeake via the Delaware Bay, MSX dramatically reduced the ysters, mainly, in Virginia s high salinity yster grunds (VIMS, 1998). Anther prtzan parasite, Perkinsus marinus, causing the disease Derm was first discvered in 1949, but did nt becme a prblem until the mid-1980 s when it attacked ysters in bth high and lw salinity envirnments (VIMS, 1998). 3

4 Histry f Legislatin Maryland enacted the first law affecting the yster industry, which prhibited the use f dredging in all waters wned by the state The One-Acre Planting Law was passed which allwed citizens t lease ne acre f land fr private cultivatin, hwever it was nly a misdemeanr if a pacher tk ysters ff private land thus making this law ineffective Wrcester Cunty established the first clsed seasn frm April 13 thrugh September Small dredges were legalized fr use by fisherman if they btained a $15 license (abut $350 tday). M&K s Epch I II I I 4

5 Histry f Legislatin All frmer ystering laws were ablished, a statewide licensing system was setup fr all yster fisherman, and fr the first time in the Chesapeake, large dredges were legalized and steam bats/machinery were utlawed Oyster plice were finally established t patrl the leased land fr pachers Cull Law stated that fisherman had t thrw back ysters that were less then 2.5 inches lng Maryland enacted the Haman Oyster bill which allwed 30 acres f bttm in the tributaries, 100 acres f bttm in Tangier Sund, and 500 acres f bttm in the bay t be leased at a time. M&K s Epch I I I II 5

6 Histry f Legislatin The Price-Campbell bill increased the number f applicatins fr leases t keep up with the increased demand The Haman Oyster bill and the Price- Campbell bill were destryed due t plitical pressures and the Shepherd Act, which basically did away with all leases % f the shucked shells frm packers and prcessrs had t be sld back t Maryland in rder fr them t be replanted in barren areas. Hwever, mst packers and prcessrs fund ways arund the rules in rder t get better prices at market. M&K s Epch II I I 6

7 Risks Disease Asian yster fertility Abandning any hpes f replenishing native yster ppulatins. 7

8 Benefits Ecnmical Aesthetics Increases xygen in ecsystem by decreasing algal blms Mre fish f ther species! 8 ep3/chesapeake_sunrise.htm

9 Legislatin Public Trust Dctrine The Public Trust Dctrine prvides that public trust lands, waters and living resurces in a State are held by the State in trust fr the benefit f all f the peple, and establishes the right f the public t fully enjy public trust lands, waters and living resurces fr a wide variety f recgnized public uses. The dctrine als sets limits n the States, the public, and private wners, as well as establishing the respnsibilities f the States when managing these public trust assets. 9

10 Federal Legislatin Frbid the intrductin f nnnative species withut apprval. Executive rder 13112, 1999 Minimize the harm that invasive species cause Lacey Act, 1900 N transprt f fish, wildlife r plants that culd be named injurius Natinal Invasive Species Act,

11 Chesapeake Bay Prgram Reginal partnership established 1983 MD, PA, VA, DC, EPA

12 Maryland and Virginia Bth states in favr f intrductin **After prper scientific research** Administrative Ratinalism 12

13 Rle f the Market Key Players: Oystermen Cmmercial Fishermen Other Industries Dependent n the Bay 13

14 Rle f the Market Oystermen Lwest Harvest Rates Ever Recrded Nthing t Lse Advcate Intrductin withut Reservatin 14

15 Rle f the Market Cmmercial Fishermen Fish Kills Put Incme In Jepardy Cncerned that Intrductin Culd Make Matters Wrse Supprt Intrductin After Adequate Research 15

16 Rle f the Market Lcal Restaurants, Bait and Tackle Shps, Turist Businesses Depend n Healthy Bay fr Incme Intrducing Asian Oysters Culd Stabilize Turist Industry

17 Rle f the Market Dryzek s Weak Eclgical Mdernizatin New Envirnmental Ethic Adpted by Lcal Industry Mtivatin Is Ecnmic Benefit N Shift Away Frm Capitalist Idelgy 17

18 Cmmunity Participatin 18

19 Envirnmental NGOs Chesapeake Bay Fundatin Delaware Riverkeeper The Nature Cnservancy Natinal Wildlife Federatin 19

20 Administrative Ratinalism The dminant apprach Chesapeake Bay Fundatin The Nature Cnservancy Natinal Wildlife Federatin Cautin, calls fr mre research The need fr mre data and analysis n the implicatins f a C. ariakensis intrductin was a primary cnclusin f the recent NRC reprt. - Chesapeake Bay Fundatin Trust in scientists - leave it t the experts Science shuld guide the prcess. - Chesapeake Bay Fundatin 20

21 Green Rmanticism Delaware Riverkeeper Categrically ppses intrductin f nnnative rganisms t replace native nes Rmanticizatin f native rganisms Nature fr its wn sake The Delaware Riverkeeper is the vice f the Delaware River and its streams, champining their rights as living members f ur cmmunity Chesapeake Bay Fundatin (smewhat) Cannt supprt intrductin f nnnatives at cst f natives 21

22 Participatin Very limited participatry framewrk Army Crps f Engineers EIS Hearings Inquisitive apprach - authrity still rests at the tp Legal actin (nt taken) Lbbying and utreach 22

23 Public Opinin Difficult t garner frm hearings Seems fairly divided Many favr further research t ensure eclgical safety and sustainability Many favr immediate intrductin t salvage a dying industry 23

24 A Prmethean Discurse T Late fr Survivalist Discurse Advcates Trust Innvatin and Substitutin T Slve Prblem Can Humans Engineer a Slutin t This Prblem That They Have Created? + =

25 Cmpnents f Epchs I and III Epch I Cntrl By Elites Tp Dwn Cntrl by State Epch III Adptin f New Envirnmental Ethic Mvement Twards Sustainability 25

26 Recmmendatins Frm a cmmittee State, Market, and Cmmunity participatin Representatives frm lcal gvernments, cmmercial fishing industries, lcal cmmunities, recreatinalist fishermen, envirnmentalists, and scientists shuld all have a place in the cmmittee Increases participatin and accuntability Encurages free and accurate infrmatin exchange Decreases resistance when decisins are made 26