Threats to the Eastern Oyster: Results of a survey of state resource managers and independent experts Leslie Craig NOAA Restoration Center Saint Petersburg, Florida Credit: Maryland Sea Grant

NOAA Fisheries was petitioned to list Eastern Oyster as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) Enough info in files to suggest it should be investigated Convened a Biological Review Team to conduct a status review Comprised of federal and state representatives What prompted the survey???

Biological Review Team Mark Berrigan Florida Department of Aquaculture and Consumer Services Dale DiazMS Department of Marine Resources Lance RobinsonTexas Parks and Wildlife Leslie CraigNOAA Fisheries Restoration Center Patrick BanksLA Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Jamie KingNOAA Fisheries Arpita ChoudhuryNational Ocean Service Gary WikforsNortheast Fisheries Science Center Frank SteimleNortheast Fisheries Science Center Fred KernNational Ocean Service Rich TakacsNOAA Fisheries Restoration Center Mike MarshallNC Department of Marine Fisheries

Approach: Surveyed 20 resource managers and independent experts 71 estuaries Total # individual responses = 103

State # estuaries/ SGA Resource Manager Independent Expert (Y/N)(Y/N) Alabama2YY Connecticut1YN Florida24 Y (for 24) Y (for 6) Georgia8YY Louisiana8YY MaineNN MassachusettsNN Mississippi1YN Maryland1YN New Hampshire NN North Carolina 2YY New Jersey 2 Y (for 2) Y (for 1) New York 4YY Rhode Island 3 Y (for 3) Y (for 1) South Carolina 7YN Texas8YN Virginia1YN

Survey topics: Asked respondents to answer questions specific to individual estuaries Asked respondents to answer questions specific to individual estuaries Questions asked: Factual responses & Opinion responses Factual responses & Opinion responses Harvest seasons/ gear/ size and bag limits Harvest seasons/ gear/ size and bag limits Estimates of acreage (harvestable and non- harvested) Estimates of acreage (harvestable and non- harvested) Recruitment, restoration, Disease/ parasites Recruitment, restoration, Disease/ parasites Perceived threats Perceived threats

Specific Question: What, if any, do you perceive as the primary threats to the oyster population in this estuary? (i.e. Habitat Threats; Overutilization threats; Predation & Disease threats; Regulatory threats; Other natural or manmade threats) What, if any, do you perceive as the primary threats to the oyster population in this estuary? (i.e. Habitat Threats; Overutilization threats; Predation & Disease threats; Regulatory threats; Other natural or manmade threats)

Regional Classification: North Atlantic – Maine through CT Mid Atlantic – NY, NJ, MD, DE, VA South Atlantic – NC, SC, GA, FL East Coast GOM- FL West Coast, AL, MS, LA, TX

Credit: Marine Photobank

Relative importance of threat type per region North Atlantic Mid Atlantic South Atlantic GOM Gulf of Mexico

No Big Surprises – The problems are not universal The problems are not universal North and Mid-Atlantic similar; South Atlantic and GOM similar North and Mid-Atlantic similar; South Atlantic and GOM similar Is it fair that disease and overharvest get all the attention/blame? Is it fair that disease and overharvest get all the attention/blame? –Maybe: # Estuaries experiencing threats is not necessarily an indication of the degree of threat

Contact info: Status review should be finalized in early 2007 Comprehensive document: Basic biology/ecology Disease Genetics/ Sub-populations?? Restoration Threats to continued existence?

SURVEY QUESTIONS How many estuaries are in your state?____ Is there significant oyster acreage in your state unaccounted for by these estuaries? Name of estuary _______________________ 1. Are oysters present in this estuary? 2. Is harvest allowed in this estuary? Seasonal____ Year round___ Not applicable____ Usual season________________ 3. What percentage of reefs are in harvestable areas? 4. Is your population estimate within the estuary stable based on fisheries dependent data? Stable based on fisheries independent data? 5. Does sufficient recruitment take place within the estuary to sustain the viability of the population?

6. Has oyster restoration or enhancement work been done in this estuary? If yes, is it conservation based or fisheries based? _______________ If yes, would the population sustain itself without restoration efforts? 7. Do disease or parasites put the sustainability of harvested oysters at risk? 8. Do disease or parasites put the sustainability of non- harvested oysters at risk? 9. Do you have an estimate of “historic” total oyster acreage for this estuary or for the entire state? 10. Do you have an estimate of current total oyster acreage for this estuary or for the entire state?

1.Does your state have harvest gear size and type restrictions? Explain 2.Are private leases allowed in your state? 3.What is your states total lease acreage? 4.What is your states total harvestable public acreage? 5. Do you allow seeding of private leases from public reefs? 6.Is there a minimum oyster size limit? 7. Are there daily sack limits on public reefs? 8. Do you feel that current regulations are sufficient to sustain oyster populations? 9. Does your state have regulations for inter-state oyster or seed transport/transplant? If so, are they adequately enforced? 10. Does your state have regulations for intra-state oyster or seed transport/transplant? If so, are they adequately enforced?