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Woolsey Statement on Drakes Bay Environmental Impact Study

5/5/09
 
Washington, DC – Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey (D-Petaluma) today issued the below statement following the release of a study on the environmental impact of oyster operations in Drakes Estero.  The report, “Shellfish Mariculture in Drakes Estero, Point Reyes National Seashore, California” was issued by the National Research Council of the National Academies, a private non-profit organization.  The report found that there was a lack of evidence that the oyster operations are having a significant impact on the nearby environment.  A webcast public briefing on the group’s findings and recommendations will take place Thursday, May 7, at 11:30 a.m. PT.  The webcast and an e-mail form to submit questions will be available at http://national-academies.org.

“I want to thank the National Research Council of the National Academies for their work on this issue.  While this report doesn’t answer all of the questions we may have on the environmental impact of Drake’s Bay Oyster Company on the Drakes Estero, it does go a long way in clarifying the current state of the health of this area, and helps us to better understand the challenges that still exist. These results, along with the second report due out in September, should serve as the starting point for bringing together all parties involved in the ongoing debate over oyster harvesting in Drakes Estero.  This study is only one piece of a broader discussion, and the results alone should not dictate the future of Drakes Estero.  That’s a question that should be resolved by local partners, working together in the best interest of the community, the environment, and Point Reyes National Seashore.  I look forward to receiving the National Research Council’s upcoming report on ‘best practices,’ and it is my hope that these studies will help inform a satisfactory solution for all parties involved, while also benefiting the community at large.”