Virginia Coastal Program: 2000 Coastal Grant Project Description and Final Summary
Project Task:
FY2000 Task 10
Grantee:
National Academy of Sciences
Project Title:
Non-native Oysters in the Chesapeake Bay
Project Description as Proposed:
This study will examine the ecological and socio-economic risks and benefits of open water aquaculture or direct introduction of the non-native oyster, Crassostrea ariakensis, in the Chesapeake Bay. The committee will address how C. ariakensis might affect the ecology of the Bay, including effects on native species, water quality, habitat, and the spread of human and oyster diseases. The study will investigate the adequacy of existing regulatory and institutional frameworks to monitor and oversee these activities. Where current knowledge is inadequate, the committee will recommend additional research priorities..
Federal Funding:
$50,000
Project Contact:
Susan Roberts, NAS, 202. 334.1729
Project Status:
Grant Closed
Final Product Received:
Project Summary Provided by Grantee:
This
study, Non-Native Oysters in the Chesapeake Bay, examined the potential
risks and benefits of introducing the Asian oyster Crassostrea ariakensis.
The report concludes that it would be imprudent to establish a reproductive
Asian oyster population in the wild because too little is known
about the potential consequences and the introduction would be irreversible.
Prohibiting any use of the non-native oyster could increase the
risk of an unsanctioned introduction, the riskiest of all scenarios
because of the high potential for co-introductions of oyster diseases,
predators, and other undesirable organisms. Raising triploid Asian
oysters in controlled aquaculture settings is an appropriate interim
option that will give scientists a chance to study how the Asian
oysters behave in Chesapeake Bay waters. With several years of research,
scientists will be better able to predict whether the Asian oyster
is likely to provide economic and ecological advantages or to cause
unrecoverable economic and ecological harm.
The report has been briefed for federal, regional, and state officials
and the general public and is available in prepublication (released
in August, 2003). Full electronic text of the report is available
at: http://books.nap.edu/catalog/10796.html.
Final publication of the report is expected in late 2003 or early
2004.
Form C end
Disclaimer: This project summary provides the federal dollars initially awarded to the grantee. Due to underexpenditure or reprogramming of grant funds, this figure may change. For more information on the allocation of coastal grant funds, please contact Laura McKay, Virginia Coastal Program Manager, at 804.698.4323 or email: Laura.McKay@deq.virginia.gov
A more detailed Scope of Work for this project is available. Please direct your request for a copy to Virginia.Witmer@deq.virginia.gov
