THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, April 12, 1996 TAG: 9604120003
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A14 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Medium: 54 lines
Regarding ``Oysters' fate - and ours'' (editorial, March 19): You aptly described the many factors that have contributed to the decline of oysters in the Chesapeake Bay, including disease, destruction of habitat and overharvesting.
Clearly, the problems facing the oyster are great, but they point to a greater dilemma facing decision-makers in the Bay region: How do we best serve the Bay and its resources to maximize long-term benefits? All too often, decisions are made to support short-term gains which ultimately fail to sustain the Bay's resources for the benefit of future generations.
The oyster is not simply a species destined for commercial harvests: It actually has several vital roles in the Bay. The oyster was historically the dominant filter-feeding organism in the Bay, buffering the system against algal blooms caused by excessive nutrient inputs. Since the oysters' decline, this link in the Bay's ecosystem has remained vacant.
Oyster reefs also provide a complex habitat which benefits commercially and ecologically important species. Juvenile fish and shellfish find refuge from predators in the oyster reef, while larger fish like striped bass use reefs as a feeding ground.
Recovery of oyster populations in the tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay will require vision and long-term commitment from Virginia's decision-makers. It also will require a commitment from the citizens living in the Bay watershed to support the efforts of the scientists and conservationists working on solutions to the problems facing the oyster.
The success of ongoing research-and-development projects will undoubtedly occur in small steps. The long-term benefits of an improving oyster population in the Bay could be great.
The Chesapeake Bay Foundation recently honored the efforts of Jim Wesson of the Virginia Marine Resources Commission with its 1995 Conservationist of the Year. Mr. Wesson's ongoing efforts to restore Virginia's oyster population are excellent examples of the types of activities that should continue to be supported.
Will we see a recovery of oysters in the Chesapeake Bay? Not without the resolve to commit to long-term solutions. In the end, the benefits of a recovered oyster population will be shared by everyone in the Bay region through improved water quality and resilience of the ecosystem.
ROBERT D. BRUMBAUGH
Fisheries scientist
Hampton Roads Office
Chesapeake Bay Foundation
Norfolk, March 28, 1996 by CNB