
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, August 23, 1995                   TAG: 9508230094
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: NEWPORT NEWS                                LENGTH: Medium

SHORTER OYSTER SEASON PROPOSED FOR JAMES

The Virginia Marine Resources Commission on Tuesday proposed cutting the 1995-96 oyster season in the James River from seven to three months because of damage done by fresh water from summer floods.

The commission also proposed maintaining an oystering ban in the Chesapeake Bay and all other rivers because of continued poor oyster populations.

A five-mile stretch of the James was the only place in Virginia west of the Eastern Shore last year to have a public oyster season. Diseases and parasites, aggravated by over-harvesting and pollution, have depleted oyster populations throughout the bay.

Commission members said they were reluctant to allow oystering at all this year in the James. Suggesting to oystermen that the season will definitely last from Oct. 1 through April 30 would be irresponsible, said commission member Jane Webb of Newport News.

``I feel very strongly we should not mislead people in the industry,'' Webb said. ``We all know that unless some miracle occurs, we will not have a spring season.''

The commission will make a decision about the oyster season after a Sept. 26 public hearing.

The population of oysters in the James has shown some improvement over the past year, but suffered a significant setback in June. Flooding in central Virginia pushed fresh water into normally salty sections of the river.

State regulators won't know exactly how much damage the fresh water did until they finish a fall survey in December.

The commission proposed Tuesday that the James be opened to oystering Oct. 1, the same day as last year. Instead of allowing the season to continue through April 30, as it did last year, the commission proposed ending the season Dec. 31.

If the fall survey shows a healthy number of oysters, the commission could decide to extend the season then.

Commission member Timothy Hayes of Richmond said the fresh water may have killed as many oysters as were harvested last year and that another harvest could severely deplete the population.

But Jim Wesson, the commission's oyster conservation and replenishment officer, said he does not believe a fall harvest would damage the population.

by CNB