Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Marine Resources Program Best Management Practices for the Commercial Mariculture and Harvest of Molluscan Shellfish in Oregon Steve Rumrill, Shellfish Program Leader Oregon Shellfish Task Force: Netarts, OR / April 25, 2016
HB 2209 / Section 5 - OR Shellfish Task Force (2015) Identified the need to develop Best Management Practices as a component of the OR Shellfish Initiative (2) The task force shall develop and produce a draft OR Shellfish Initiative (c) Priorities for research and research funding (B) Develop Best Management Practices through cooperative efforts: commercial and recreational shellfish industries state and federal agencies academia BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES = Planning actions and mariculture operation techniques that are consistent with the conservation of wild shellfish stocks and shellfish habitats Goal for TF Mtg. today is to provide the background to help our discussion about BMPs
Definition: Best Management Practices BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES (HB2209) = Planning actions and mariculture operation techniques that are consistent with the conservation of wild shellfish stocks and shellfish habitats Best Management Practices are the group of mutually agreed-upon actions and procedures that are followed to protect estuarine habitats, conserve living resources, and ensure regulatory complience during commercial shellfish growing and harvest operations. BENEFITS of Best Management Practices!!!
Environmental Policy (2001) Environmental Codes of Practice (2002) general principles & guidance Best Management Practices for individual shellfish farms
Environmental Policy (2001) = General Principles Environmental Stewardship & Responsible Management Environmental Excellence Regulatory Compliance Waste Management Sharing Resources Still relevant in 2016
Environmental Codes of Practice (2002) Identification of existing federal, state & local regulations Identification of best available science (Bibliography/Webliography) Identification of current cultivation methods & best management practices Individual Farm Management Plan templates Should be updated & revised for 2016
ECOP Chapters (2002): Overview of industry Environmental Health Impacts General Management Principles Pest & Predator Control Hatchery & Nursery Operations Species Specific Operations Processing & Shipping Compliance & Monitoring Shellfish Industry Regulations: Federal, State, Local Research Bibliography & References Farm Plan Templates
Best Management Practices for the East Coast Shellfish Aquaculture Industry G. Flimlin, S. Macfarlane, E. Rhodes, K. Rhodes (June 2010)
Best Management Practices for the East Coast Shellfish Aquaculture Industry (2010) Table of Contents: Introduction to codes and BMPs Description of shellfish culture methods Codes of conduct for molluscan shellfish culture BMP elements Permits Siting Issues Good neighbor policy Seed sources Operational & maintenance issues Handling & reporting diseases Protected species & habitats Shellfish sanitation protecting human health Record keeping & monitoring Farm-level BMP template Contacts Bibliography
Best Management Practices for the British Columbia Shellfish Aquaculture Industry published 2001 revised 2013
Task Ahead for OR Shellfish Initiative (2017-2018): Need to build on expertise from: industry (PCSGA / EP + ECOP) federal, state & local agencies coastal tribes academia NGOs & public stakeholders to update/revise/develop broader BMP manual for commercial shellfish mariculture and harvest operations along Oregon coast
Scope: Best Management Practices General issues / actions encompassed by BMPs (proposed): Permitting & Siting Gear/Operation & Maintenance Hatcheries & Broodstock Harvest of Wild Stocks Environmental Concerns Seafood Safety & Water Quality User Conflicts Research Gaps
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Marine Resources Program Oregon Wildlife Policy / ORS 496.012 wildlife shall be managed to prevent serious depletion of any indigenous species and to provide the optimum recreational and aesthetic benefits for present and future generations of the citizens of this state.
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Marine Resources Program ODFW goals for wildlife management: 1. Maintain all species of wildlife at optimum levels; 2. Develop and manage the lands and waters in a manner that will enhance the production and public enjoyment of wildlife; 3. Permit an orderly and equitable utilization of available wildlife; 4. Develop and maintain public access to the lands and waters and wildlife resources; 5. Regulate wildlife populations and the public enjoyment of wildlife in a manner that is compatible with primary uses of the lands and waters; 6. Provide optimum recreational benefits; 7. Make decisions that affect wildlife resources for the benefit of wildlife resources, and make decisions that allow the best social, economic, and recreational utilization of wildlife by all user groups. Oregon Wildlife Policy / ORS 496.012
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Marine Resources Program Agency role regarding commercial mariculture of shellfish: To ensure that commercial shellfish mariculture operations do not cause undue negative impact to the fish, wildlife and their habitats, and that they do not have adverse impacts to recreational and commercial shellfish use
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Marine Resources Program Specific ODFW Requirements & Recommendations: 1. Shellfish Transport Permit (OAR 635-005-0900) a. Shellfish Health Certificate 2. Restrictions on Species Importation, Harvest and Possession (OAR 635-056) 3. Comments and Recommendations on ODA Shellfish Lease Applications
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Marine Resources Program ODFW Shellfish Transport Permit / OAR 635-005-0900 Shellfish Transport Permit is required to transport oysters into the state for the purposes of planting in state waters and also for transport from one state water body to another Shellfish Health Certificate is required from an accredited facility certifying that shellfish are free of diseases, pests and other substances that might endanger indigenous resources
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Marine Resources Program ODFW Shellfish Health Certificate / OAR 635-005-0900 Two most common accredited providers: Aquatechnics (Sequim, WA) Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS, VA) Shellfish are tested using histological and PCR techniques: Bonamia spp. Haplosporidium spp. Perkinsus spp. Marteilia spp. Mikrocytos spp. HIVD, GNVD, OVVD
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Marine Resources Program ODFW Restrictions on Shellfish Transport Intrastate estuary restrictions: Yaquina Bay Haplospordium Require: Health Certificate Netarts Bay Atlantic Oyster Drill Require: Chlorine treatment
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Marine Resources Program ODFW Restrictions on Shellfish Species Importation, Harvest, and Possession/ OAR 635-056 Purpose: protect Oregon s native wildlife by regulating human actions involving non-native species Prohibited species (635-056-0050) Non-controlled species (635-056-0060) Controlled species (635-056-0070)
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Marine Resources Program OAR 635-056-0075 / (2) Controlled Mollusks: Non-native oysters that may be purchased and imported into Oregon estuaries: Suminoe oysters (Crassostrea ariakensis) Pacific oysters (C. gigas) Kumamoto oysters (C. sikamea) Eastern oysters (C. virginica) European flat oysters (Ostrea edulis) Non-native clams that may be harvested, possessed, and sold commercially (or harvested and possessed recreationally): Softshell clam (Mya arenaria) Japanese varnish clam (Nuttalia obscurata) Japanese littleneck clam (Venerupis philipinnarum)
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Marine Resources Program ODFW Comments and Recommendations on ODA Commercial Shellfish Mariculture Lease Applications Purpose: protect Oregon s native wildlife and their habitats, and ensure continued use of areas by recreational and commercial users
ODFW Review of Proposed Commercial Mariculture Lease Applications: 1. Proposed lease in a classified prohibited or closure area 2. Species of shellfish for cultivation 3. Type of mariculture operation & in-water structures 4. Timing of grow-out & harvest techniques 5. Potential impacts to benthic invertebrate communities 6. Presence of native eelgrass beds (Zostera marina) 7. Habitat use by resident & migratory fish 8. Habitat use by shorebirds, waterfowl, & marine mammals 9. Impacts to existing sport and commercial users 10.Cumulative impacts of mariculture operations 11.Compliance with zoning units in local estuary management plan 12.Landscape context / special areas within tidal basin
Oregon Shellfish Plat Lease Program Commercial Shellfish Grower application approve or deny ODA Shellfish Plat Lease Program ODA Decision Comments: Elected officials NMFS USFWS ACOE ODFW ODLCD ODEQ ODSL Counties Shellfish growers Public NGOs Etc.
Commercial Shellfish Harvesters and Growers who Harvest for Human Consumption are Limited to ODA Classified Shellfish Growing Areas 1. Clatsop Beaches 2. Tillamook Bay 3. Netarts Bay 4. Yaquina Bay 5. Umpqua Triangle 6. Umpqua Estuary 7. Coos Bay 8. South Slough Water Quality Monitoring: fecal indicator bacteria
Commercial Oyster Mariculture Techniques Bottom Rack & Bag Stake Long-line Rack Buoy Line
Identification of Ecological Impacts and Best Management Practices for Shellfish Mariculture in Pacific Northwest Bays and Estuaries: Everett et al. 1995 Impacts of Stakes & Racks South Slough NERR Pregnall 1993 Recovery after Removal South Slough NERR Trianni 1995 Harvest Dredge Impacts Humboldt Bay Rumrill & Christy 1996 Impacts of Bottom Culture South Slough NERR Schreffler et al. 1999 Impacts of Bottom Culture Tillamook Bay Dumbauld et al. 2001 Impacts to Benthic Communities Pacific Northwest Rumrill & Poulton 2004 Impacts of Long-Line Culture Humboldt Bay Dumbauld et al. 2004 Harvest Dredge Impacts Willapa Bay Dumbauld et al. 2009 Summary of Ecological Impacts Pacific Northwest Cohen et al. 2011 Ecological services multiple sites Ruesink et al. 2012 Impacts from Multiple Stressors Pacific Northwest Rumrill 2015 Shellfish-eelgrass Interactions Pacific Northwest
ODFW Review of Proposed Commercial Mariculture Lease Applications: Map of proposed plat area with an overlay of the density of native eelgrass (Zostera marina). Shoot densities greater than 53 shoots m -2 are indicated by the green circles. Other oyster plats (black outlines) are also included for spatial reference to the proposed plat.
ODFW Review of Proposed Commercial Mariculture Lease Applications: Map showing the 50m buffer required around eelgrass beds with shoot densities > 53 shoots m -2 relative to the proposed shellfish mariculture plat.
Questions?
Figure 3. Map showing the presence or absence of Zostera japonica in and around the proposed plat.
Overview of ODFW responsibilities to ensure health of fish, wildlife, habitats (MH) ODFW Shellfish Transport Permit (MH) OR Shellfish Health Certificate (MH) Components of OR Shellfish Certificate (MH) ODFW role in HAB monitoring and ODA biotoxin testing (MH) ODFW comments on ODA Commercial Mariculture Lease Applications (SR) Specific concerns about fish and wildlife impacts (mar. mammals, shorebirds, fishes) (SR) Specific concerns about habitats / eelgrass impacts (SR) Concerns about non-native species introductions from mariculture operations (SR) OAR 056 controlled molluscs (cultivated oysters, softshells, PVC, manila clams) (SR) ODFW responsibilities with regard to native Olympia oysters (SR) Concerns about impacts of commercial mariculture to sport clammers and other recreational stakeholders (SR) Cumulative impacts from multiple lease operations (SR) Questions (MH & SR)
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Marine Resources Program OAR 635-056-0075 / (2) Controlled Mollusks (2) Controlled Mollusks: (a) Suminoe oysters (Crassostrea ariakensis), Pacific oysters (C.gigas), Kumamoto oysters (C. sikamea), Eastern oysters (C. virginica), and European flat oysters (Ostrea edulis) may be purchased and imported from outside Oregon (or from other estuaries within Oregon) for release into estuaries in Oregon pursuant to the terms of a permit issued by the department. Complete permit applications must be submitted to the department s Marine Resources Program Headquarters (2040 SE Marine Science Drive, Newport, Oregon 97365) at least 15 days before proposed stocking. Oysters may be commercially harvested and sold pursuant to OAR 635-005. (b) Softshell clam (Mya arenaria), Japanese varnish clam (Nuttalia obscurata) and Japanese littleneck clam (Venerupis philipinnarum) may be harvested, possessed and sold commercially pursuant to OAR 635-005 or harvested and possessed recreationally pursuant to OAR 635-039.
635-005-0285 Additional License Requirement It is unlawful to take, distribute or process oysters, clams, mussels and scallops intended for human consumption without first obtaining a Shellfish Sanitation Certificate specified in OAR 635-005-0255.
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Marine Resources Program