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SCIENCEThursday 1 October 2015
N.J. wants another year to settle oyster research flap
In this June 27, 2012 file photo, Beth Ravit, left, a Rutgers
University researcher, holds oysters from an experimental
WAYNE PARRY fish industry. in May, the Garden State colony; and in this June 27, 2012 photo shows young oysters,
Associated Press The state Senate passed Seafood Association said
New Jersey wants another a bill last week that would having someone get sick right, attached to clam shells that had been growing in an
year to decide one of its give the New Jersey De- from eating a tainted oys-
most intractable environ- partment of Environmental ter “would have a real im- experimental plot at the Earle Naval Weapons Station pier in
mental issues: whether to Protection another year to pact on the seafood indus-
allow experimental oyster issue regulations for experi- try.” The oysters included in Middletown, N.J. Associated Press
colonies in polluted areas mental oyster plots. It also the research programs are
to see if they can help would require the permit solely for the purpose of im- Environmentalists and sci- Rutgers University got per-
clean the waterways. holders to certify that the proving water quality. Un-
The research is designed to shellfish beds are not visible like oysters grown commer- entists began planting oys- mission to set up oyster
see if re-establishing oysters or easily accessible to the cially in unpolluted parts of
in areas like the Raritan Bay public. the New Jersey coast, they ter colonies in polluted ar- colonies at the Earle Naval
can help improve water DEP spokesman Bob Con- cannot be sold or eaten.
quality by using their natu- sidine said the depart- Debbie Mans, head of the eas including Raritan Bay Weapons Station in Middle-
ral filtering techniques. ment plans in the next few NY/NJ Baykeeper environ-
But what’s been holding months to confer with both mental group, said she has in the early 2000s, hoping town, whose pier juts out
up the research, which the sides on the issue before seen a proposed draft of
state abruptly halted in issuing new regulations, the new regulations, and to re-establish a species into the Raritan Bay. Pre-
2010, is how to make sure which could be ready ear- her group cannot support
poachers don’t sneak in ly next year. them. that was once so plentiful liminary results showed that
and grab the oysters, sell- “Our goal is to provide “It is very, very restrictive,
ing them and potentially clearer standards for the including a requirement that maritime charts listed the oysters were able to
sickening consumers. The shellfish industry to keep it that the permittee have
bad publicity from an out- vibrant while also ensuring the power to arrest peo- piles of oysters as threats to grow and thrive in the con-
break of oyster-related ill- health and safety are pro- ple they think are messing
ness could devastate New tected,” he said. around with the reef,” she navigation. taminated waters of the
Jersey’s $800 million shell- At a state Senate hearing said.
But the research hit a bay until Superstorm Sandy
major roadblock in 2010, wrecked them in October
when the DEP made the 2012. The state allowed
Baykeeper group rip out that research because the
its oyster colonies from the oysters were protected
bay in Keyport. The state by gun-toting sailors, and
said it acted because it boaters are prohibited
couldn’t guarantee that from getting near the pier.
poachers would not steal Researchers now want to
the oysters, potentially in- expand the oyster colonies
troducing tainted seafood to other parts of the bay
into New Jersey’s highly re- and to other waterways in
garded shellfish industry. the state to finally deter-
In the interim, groups in- mine if the shellfish can im-
cluding Baykeeper and prove water quality.q
