TRENTON — Legislation has been introduced to allow scientists and activists to continue operating experimental oyster beds in New Jersey’s polluted coastal waters, despite a ban imposed by state regulators two weeks ago. State Sen. Gerald Cardinale (R-Bergen) introduced the measure, contending the state Department of Environmental Protection "over-reacted" by ordering the ban. The DEP contends the reduction of...
Antonio Rodriguez (center) of Atlantic Cape Fisheries tosses an oyser into a collection bucket as he harvests from their farm raised oyster beds during low tide in the Deleware Bay with Orlando Perez (left) and Kenny Derosiers (right), in this photo taken in May.TRENTON — Legislation has been introduced to allow scientists and activists to continue operating experimental oyster beds in New Jersey’s polluted coastal waters, despite a ban imposed by state regulators two weeks ago.
State Sen. Gerald Cardinale (R-Bergen) introduced the measure, contending the state Department of Environmental Protection "over-reacted" by ordering the ban. The DEP contends the reduction of shellfish harvests in the Gulf of Mexico because of the BP Deepwater spill may prompt poachers to steal and market the tainted oysters, jeopardizing the $790 million local shellfish industry.
"You want to encourage the restoration of our estuaries," Cardinale said today. "Here we have a going experiment at re-establishing oysters. They are not being planted so they can be readily harvested by people who are not part of the program. They are being planted in locked receptacles and bags ... so they are not easy to steal."
DEP Commissioner Bob Martin said the local shellfish industry is threatened if just one person gets sick on a bad New Jersey oyster.
"We implemented this ban because we wanted to protect the health and safety of the people in New Jersey. ... Doing anything other than that is just wrong," Martin said.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is pressuring New Jersey to improve mandated patrols of shellfish beds, including experimental operations such as oyster reefs the NY/NJ Baykeeper has built in the tainted Keyport Harbor and Navesink River, Martin said.
"We do not have enough conservation officers to conduct patrols due to cuts over the past several years," he said. "The FDA would clamp down on us and shut down the industry."
Martin said he will permit the experimental programs to continue, as long as the researchers switch to non-commercial mollusks. But the Baykeeper contends the program is designed to establish native oysters, not other species.
Previous coverage:
• N.J. environmental group files protest over oyster beds shutdown that may lead to court hearing
• Environmentalists say shutdown of N.J. oyster beds could have detrimental effects
• N.J. bans oyster restoration projects after BP oil spill
• Sussex County festival to feature crawfish, not oysters after BP oil spill