Report Available Relating Fish Condition and Primary Production to Calcasieu Oysters

[MathGeek]

Originally Posted by juicegoose

So what next?

We've sent the report to LDWF and other Gulf region scientists for their review and consideration. We believe the results strengthen the case to protect oysters due to their valuable ecosystem services that enhance primary production and fish condition. Hopefully, conservation groups like CCA will take notice and begin working harder to protect existing oyster reefs and restore oyster reefs in Louisiana.

We're limited in our manpower, but a few ideas we are considering as far as moving the science forward are:

* Study correlations of oyster stocks and primary production in other areas of the Louisiana coast.
* Use annual otolith deposition widths as a historical record to determine high-growth years and low-growth years and see how this correlates with oyster stock assessments and other factors that may impact growth and condition of finfish.
* Extend the study to a 5th and possibly a 6th year. Each additional year of data increases confidence in discerning causal factors from confounding factors.
* Look for correlations between oyster stock assessments and other water quality metrics like fecal coliform. Does anyone know of good contacts at LA DEQ or DHH who might share their water quality data? Showing that oysters improve water quality would provide an fishery independent line of reasoning to more carefully protect oyster reefs.