CCA is skeptical about oyster dredging bill

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

However, it puzzles us why he writes that CCA has supported the Maryland Department of Natural Resources' program of "dredging to clean and revitalize oyster bars."

The fact is that we have never been asked to support this program.

Frankly, we are skeptical about its value since there is no scientific evidence that dredging cleans oyster bars without damaging them to an extent where oysters and other organisms suffer.

For years, CCA has argued that fisheries decisions must be based on scientific data, rather than emotions. Why is the delegate trying to bring CCA onto his side when we aren't on this specific issue?

Another fact is that CCA testified against HB 584, which would allow dredging and patent tonging on a section of the Patuxent. Scott McGuire, chairman of the CCA MD Government Relations Committee, spoke before the House Environmental Matters Committee on Feb. 25 in opposition to HB 584.

Much of his testimony focused on the state Oyster Advisory Commission, which makes recommendations on the management of oysters.

The OAC, of which Del. O'Donnell is a member, just last year recommended creation of large no harvest areas for oysters and a transition to an aquaculture approach to harvesting oysters.

It also recommended prohibiting power dredging in non-lease areas.

One wonders why Del. O'Donnell is now arguing for power dredging when the state body on which he sits took exactly the opposite approach based on scientific data.

The delegate also suggests that CCA "should be worried" about the environment. He should know that the local Patuxent River Chapter has adopted oyster restoration as its community service project, planted 64,000 oysters last year in feeder creeks to the Patuxent, working with 27 homeowners in his district.

This summer the CCA Chapter will plant 1 million spat on shell, working with up to 250 Calvert County homeowners.

We are committed to increasing the numbers of oysters, not destroying their habitat.

We hope O'Donnell moves toward a science-based approach to marine resources. We need to work together on these issues. The Chesapeake Bay is far too important a resource to all Marylanders to rely on emotion.

Del. O'Donnell refers to CCA as his friend. We want to be his friend as we protect marine resources based on solid scientific data. But we also hope Del. O'Donnell gets his facts straight regarding his friends.

Andy Hughes, Annapolis

The writer is chairman of the Coastal Conservation Association Maryland.