Panel Balks At Opening Public Oyster Grounds
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Members of Louisiana's Oyster Task Force still aren't ready to open more public oyster grounds to harvest, despite depleted supplies that followed the BP oil spill.
The Task Force on Tuesday voted overwhelmingly against a motion to recommend that the state open more public grounds east of the Mississippi River. Owners of oyster processing businesses pushed for a February opening after hearing a state Wildlife and Fisheries report that recent surveys found few young "spat" oysters in the area in question; the business owners said that means dredging for existing market-sized oysters would not harm a developing resource.
But oyster harvesters on the task force said they still think opening the grounds could deplete a limited number of oysters and endanger future years' harvests.
More From News Talk 96.5 KPEL
