LDWF meeting to talk about Big Lake Oysters

[MathGeek]

Originally Posted by MathGeek

Therefore, I would recommend contacting Commission members today with your input regarding oystering. Some points to consider:

1. Damage to oyster reefs by dredging not only harms the future of the oyster fishery, but also harms the entire ecosystem and fishery.

2. Healthy oyster reefs provide essential ecosystem services including filtering of anthropogenic inputs, benthopelagic coupling, biological resistance to algae blooms and subsequent hypoxia, nursery areas for finfish, areas of concentrated benthos, and high quality habitat.

3. Over harvesting of oysters was a key factor in the decline of many fisheries along the southeastern Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States, including the Chesapeake Bay and Galveston Bay.

4. Scientists estimate that each 10 square meters of high quality oyster reefs produce an additional 2.6 kg/year of finfish and large crustaceans.

I just got the report with the 2014 oyster stock assessment data from LDWF. It looks like the 2014 oyster numbers are up slightly above the 2013 numbers. So it is possible to interpret the data as if the oyster stocks are rebounding, even though they are nowhere near the levels in 2009-2010 (before the steep decline due to high harvest pressure). It is possible that the Commission may leave next year's regulations about the same as this year's (allowing dredging in West Cove, but no harvest on the east side).

If you would like to see oyster dredging stopped in West Cove, you should make plans to attend the meeting tomorrow or contact Commission members today.

Also of interest is the map of the 2014 Gulf of Mexico dead zone, released a few days ago by LUMCON. Notice the large area of hypoxic bottom water in the Gulf between Sabine and Mermantau. The dead zone area in this region has been growing since the oyster overharvest in 2010, and review of NASA satellite images showing Chlorophyll a concentration appear to provide the explanation. (See: http://oceancolor.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi/l3 ) Two valuable ecosystem services provided by quality oyster reef habitats are curbing anthropogenic inputs of nitrogen and phosphorus (which fertilize algae blooms) and directly reducing algae concentrations by filter feeding on algae. Hypoxic bottom water is caused mainly by the decaying of abundant algae and other photosynthetic biomass after it sinks to the bottom.