Group pulls support for Asian oysters in Chesapeake Bay

NEWPORT NEWS

A key champion for introducing Asian oysters into the Chesapeake Bay abruptly dropped its campaign Tuesday after eight years, saying it no longer will experiment or lobby for the exotic species, despite years of success.

"We're done with it," said a teary-eyed Frances Porter, executive director of the Virginia Seafood Council, a trade group. She called the decision, based on conversations with unnamed government officials over the weekend, "the toughest in my 25 years in this business."

The surprise announcement seems to end years of contentious debate over the possible use of the Asian species to help restore oyster populations in the Bay - a debate focused on the near-collapse of native stocks because of disease, pollution, predators and lost habitat. The natives also have shown little success in returning after 15 years of government attempts.

The announcement also comes as Virginia, Maryland and the Army Corps of Engineers continue to quietly negotiate a new restoration strategy for oysters, good for the next 10 years, that all parties can agree to.

Such consensus still has not been found, and another conference call is expected later this week.

Virginia and the Army Corps have wanted to continue limited experiments with the Asian species in controlled settings, while Maryland, environmentalists, federal agencies, scientists and coastal states want nothing more to do with the foreign animal.

They argue that the risks of an unforeseen accident or new disease stemming from the Asian oyster, even supposedly sterile ones grown under security measures, are too great.

So with the Virginia Seafood Council dropping its interest and support for Asian experiments, including a proposal to grow 1.1 million of them in protective bags and cages this year, the future course appears clear now - with native oysters only.

Environmental groups, which showed up Tuesday in Newport News to oppose the latest Asian proposal, were stunned - and thankful - to hear the experiments had been called off.

"It's the safest and best option out there," said Tommy Leggett, an oyster expert with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.

Leggett said recent advancements with native oysters provide new hope that, with enough funding and attention, a recovery is possible. The restoration strategy calls for an investment of at least $500 million, by public and private interests, over the next 10 years.

Others were upset by the sudden pullout.

Ernest Bowden, an Eastern Shore waterman and member of the Virginia Marine Resources Commission, said he is "deeply concerned that we will never reach our goal" of restoring oysters in the Bay.

Bowden said the Asian species, which grows faster and does not die in the face of two deadly parasites that often kill native animals, "was our only hope."

Bowden also said he was "deeply disappointed" with how state and federal regulators have handled the matter, and he told one official who favors a native-only approach "to wipe that grin off your face."

Porter, too, said the Virginia Seafood Council remains convinced that, after eight years of controlled experiments in the Bay, the Asian oyster is the only way to restore wild populations.

"The oyster is viable," she said. T here's a demand for it,."

Her latest proposal sought to grow 1.1 million oysters at 11 sites in the Bay, including one in the Lynnhaven River in Virginia Beach and another working with a Norfolk waterman.

The experiments are privately funded and would last 12 months.

But after discussions with various officials over the weekend, Porter said it became clear that Virginia would not approve any more trials with the Asian species, also known as ariakensis or the Suminoe oyster.

She declined to elaborate on her discussions but encouraged reporters to contact the governor's office for details.

Lynda Tran, a spokeswoman for Gov. Timothy M. Kaine, said the governor has not yet decided on an oyster strategy, including what to do about ariakensis.

Tran said the information told to Porter "was not accurate."

"We're continuing to explore the issues," Tran said.

Scott Harper, (757) 446-2340, scott.harper@pilotonline.com