Report Assesses Introducing Non-native Oyster to Chesapeake Bay Asian species considered as replacement for diminishing native oysters in key estuary
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the state governments of Maryland and Virginia released an Environmental Impact Statement today that evaluates a proposal to introduce oysters from Asia into Chesapeake Bay. The EIS assesses the potential impact of this non-native species on the United States' largest estuary. "Introducing an alien species to any ecosystem involves significant risks, and the decision should be made in a careful and cautious manner," said Ecological Society of America President Alison Power. "I call upon scientists across the country to review the report and to weigh in on this important issue." The report is the result of a 5-year, $17 million research study that aims to evaluate the possible effects of introducing the Suminoe oyster, a native of the China Sea, which has the potential to thrive in the Chesapeake because it is resistant to diseases that have adversely affected native Eastern oysters. The disease resistance doesn't come without risks, however, according to experts. Andrew Altieri, a researcher at Brown University who studies the ecology of oysters and clams in estuaries, points out that there may still be unknown costs associated with the proposed introduction. For example, Asian oysters are ill-equipped to deal with low-oxygen "dead zones" that occur in the Chesapeake. "Because of their low hypoxia tolerance, Asian oysters might occupy a smaller portion of the Chesapeake than native oysters," he says. "Since there are likely to be unforeseen consequences of adding an alien species to the Bay, managers should weigh the short- and long-term tradeoffs in this proposal." Such a large-scale introduction into a commercially important area has never been undertaken in U.S. waters. The decision has the potential to set a major precedent for future introductions. A public comment period on the report will be open for 60 days, beginning Friday, Oct. 17. Scientists and the public are urged to review the report and submit comments at http://www.nao.usace.army.mil/OysterEIS/.
