Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Aquaculture opportunity zones challenged

US - Oyster farmers backed by a state senator are challenging a law that will designate part of the Virginia shoreline for commercial shellfish farming. According to a report in the Richmond Times Dispatch, a total of 1,000 acres off the shores of the Northern Neck, the Middle Peninsula and Tangier Island could be earmarked for commercial shellfish farming.

The proposal put forward by Delegate Albert C. Pollard Jr. sees the creation of Aquaculture Opportunity Zones to promote the transition of watermen from the wild harvest of shellfish. The wild shellfish populations in the Chesapeake Bay area have suffered from pollution and disease in recent times.

But a bill introduced by state Sen. Ralph S. Northam that seeks to remove the authority of the Virginia Marine Resources Commission to create the zones could undo effort, the report says. It unanimously passed in the Senate last week and is on the way to the House Agriculture Committee for consideration. Read more...

This blog is written by Martin Little The Aquaculturists, published and supported by the International Aquafeed Magazine from Perendale Publishers.



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