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WASHINGTON, DC- Today, Congressman Henry E. Brown, Jr. (R-SC), Ranking Republican Member of the Subcommittee on Fisheries, Oceans and Wildlife, heard testimony on the status of oyster restoration that is currently being done in the Chesapeake Bay and along the coast of South Carolina. After the hearing, which was aimed at investigating why federal and state restoration efforts have not been more successful, Brown issued the following statement:
“As Co-Chair of the Congressional Shellfish Caucus, I am very concerned about the health of our shellfish resources as well as the economic well-being of our fishing communities and the watermen that rely on shellfish to make their living. Oysters provide a vital ecological function for the Nation’s estuaries and also provide a key economic benefit for our coastal communities. The problems facing the Chesapeake Bay are a warning to all of us.”
The oyster population of the Chesapeake Bay has been depleted by decades of overfishing and two diseases, MSX and Dermo. Research on the diseases began in 1990 and restoration efforts began in 1999. However, even after continuous restoration, reports show that vital oyster populations continue to decline.
To protect the SC coast from a similar problem, the South Carolina Department of Natural Resource’s (SCDNR) initiated their own oyster rehabilitation program in 2001. The South Carolina Oyster Restoration and Enhancement (SCORE) program works to manage the state’s oyster population by recycling oyster shells and mobilizing community-based restoration. For over seven years, more than 2000 volunteers have used in excess of 250 tons of recycled shell to build 105 reefs at 28 sites along the South Carolina coast.
Congressman Brown believes that is essential to give the Federal and state researchers the tools they need to continue researching the oyster populations in the Chesapeake Bay in order to prevent a potential problem along the east coast. For more information on Congressman Brown’s work as the Ranking Republican Member of the Subcommittee on Fisheries, Oceans and Wildlife visit http://republicans.resourcescommittee.house.gov/fisheries.shtml.
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