THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, January 26, 1996 TAG: 9601260625
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: METRO BRIEFS
LENGTH: Short : 27 lines
The head of Virginia's efforts to restore native oyster stocks has been named the Chesapeake Bay Foundation's ``Conservationist of the Year.''
James A. Wesson III, chief of the Virginia Marine Resources Commission's conservation and replenishment division, has frequently been at odds with watermen over his policies, which seek to reverse years of disease, pollution and habitat loss.
Unfortunately, the diseases seem to be winning the war, at least so far, with stocks currently at historic lows.
Wesson, a resident of Gloucester, was presented the award at a ceremony Tuesday in Richmond. He joins past winners, who include former Maryland Sen. Charles McC. Mathias, former Environmental Protection Agency director William D. Ruckelshaus, and last year's honoree, Cherrystone AqauFarms on the Virginia Eastern Shore. by CNB