(2) Haskin Shellfish Research Laboratory Rutgers University “ Seeding the Seed Beds ” Delaware Bay Oyster Restoration Program Russell Babb 1, Jason Hearon 1, David Bushek 2 and Eric Powell 2 (1)NJDEP, Division of Fish and Wildlife Marine Fisheries Administration

Crassostrea virginica is an estuarine species inhabiting waters of ~ 5 to 30 ppt (ocean water is typically 35 ppt) New York Philadelphia Baltimore Washington Chesapeake Bay Delaware Bay

Ecological Function, Ecosystem Services Keystone species providing the basis for a vast community of benthic organisms. Important as foraging, nursery and spawning habitat to many species. Oysters and the reefs they create increase habitat and faunal diversity and with their high filtration capacity, can possibly improve water quality (latter sometimes oversold).

Bivalve, NJ – ca. 1928

Oystering By Sail & Power

Traditional Fishery Culture Intensive Wild oyster seed was harvested from natural beds in the upper bay (good survival, slower growth) Seed was transplanted to private grounds in lower bay (good growth and market- quality meats) NEW JERSEY DELAWARE Seed Beds Courtesy of Susan Ford Leased Grounds

Prosperity! In Cumberland Co., NJ, there were more millionaires per capita than anywhere in else in the U.S.! Important to note that this harvest was augmented from seed imported from southern states Annual harvests from 1 to 2 million bu.

Parasites MSX Dermo Humans Fishing The oyster has many enemies! Competitors Fouling Predators Drills Crabs Slide courtesy of J. Kraeuter

MSX Strikes

Gradual Recovery & Limited Entry 1960s & 1970s: Native oysters develop some resistance to MSX disease. Population abundance was high and relatively stable during the 1970s. 1981: NJDEP implements a limited-entry licensing system Through mid ‘80s, oyster industry provides steady employment

Dermo Arrives!

A Change In Management 1995: Direct Market Program commences, allowing oystermen to harvest oysters greater than 2.5 inches for direct sale : 35 to 74 vessels participate annually The State of Delaware followed suit in 2001 with amendments to their regulations that permitted the direct marketing of oysters from their seed beds.

How Do We Assess the Stock? Formalized stock assessment includes: 1)a rigorous stock survey (performed by Rutgers University’s Haskin Shellfish Research Lab), 2)an annual stock assessment workshop, 3) use of a coupled fisheries-disease model for projections of yearly harvest.

Harvest Stabilization Significant progress has been made toward stabilizing oyster production. Delaware Bay consistently produces a high value oyster B.C. Posadas

May 2005Delaware Estuary Science Conference Unprecedented Low Recruitment! Dermo Onset

A Shellplanting Program The most effective method to increase oyster production is to plant clean shell (also known as cultch) at the appropriate time to provide a clean surface for setting larvae. C.L. McKenzie Shell covered by silt. C.L. McKenzie Shell with silt removed.

Benthic Sled Transect across ‘Shell Rock’ Oyster Bed - Spring

High Recruitment Zones of Lower Bay Percentage of years in which natural oyster set on NJ side of Bay will be at least 20 spat per clean oyster shell surface (Haskin Lab)

NJDEP’s Pilot Project During the summer of 2003, the NJ Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) conducted a multiphase shell-planting program with the objective of augmenting juvenile abundance on the state seed beds by taking advantage of the extraordinary set potential of the lower Bay. Shell planted – July ‘03

NJDEP’s Pilot Project Spatted shell reharvested – Sept. ‘03

What did we get out of this project? The restoration site was monitored by DEP and HSRL staff for 2.5 years. Disease levels and mortality were generally low while growth was excellent. 25,000 bu. clam shell planted ~16,500 bu. of spatted cultch recovered and transplanted ~1,800 spat per bushel (112 times the ’03 Bay average (only 16 spat/bu.!) 30 million oysters were transplanted to the restoration site (Bennies Sand).

2006 SAW estimated the site would contribute 13,393 bushels to the 2006 harvest, a 26% increase. Ex-vessel value of nearly $500,000 (project cost $42,000) Total economic benefit of nearly $3 million dollars. Six-acre project site (only 1% of Bennies Sand seedbed) had 58 percent of all of the marketable oysters on the bed. Total cost-benefit ratio > $50 to every $1 invested by the State. What did we get out of this project?

Benthic Sled Transect across Bennies Sand 2003 clam shell plant - Spring

Federal Initiative: Partnership Approach US Army Corps of Engineers NJDEP, Division of Fish and Wildlife DEDNREC, Division of Fish & Wildlife NJ & DE Oyster Industry Rutgers University, Haskin Laboratory Delaware River and Bay Authority Delaware River Basin Commission Partnership for the Delaware Estuary Delaware Estuary Program US Fish and Wildlife Service

June 2003: NJDEP conducts pilot scale program at a cost of $42,000 February 2005: NJDEP allocates $300,000 for shell-planting program June 2005: Township of Commercial awarded $300,000 by Federal Empowerment Zone Program June 2005: $300,000 federal allotment via Congressman Frank A. LoBiondo to be shared with the state of Delaware November 2005: $2 million dollar federal allotment via Senators Biden & Carper (DE), Lautenberg & Menendez (NJ), Congressmen LoBiondo (NJ), Castle (DE) & Governors Minner (DE) and Corzine (NJ) Funding Sources for Shell Planting Program

~ 278,000 bushels of clam shell in NJ & DE waters 2005 Shell Planting Program

How Did We Do Last Year? 2005 Metrics: 6 sites planted with an mean recruitment rate nearly 14 times the baywide mean Plantings enhanced recruitment ‘bay-wide’ by 10 percent, despite planting only 100 acres. The Shellrock shell plants accounted for 52.4 percent of the bed’s total 2005 recruitment. On all of the high mortality beds (10,250 acres), a single 25- acre shell plant on Bennies Sand accounted for 10.7 percent of that region's total recruitment.

2006 Shell Planting Program June & July 2006: 500,000+ bu. of clam shell planted on 10 to 12 sites in Delaware Bay (NJ DE) Two sites located in NJ’s lower Bay-high recruitment zones

Early Monitoring of 2006 Lower Bay Sites Bennies Sand - Grid 6 Received 14,711 bu. of spatted cultch Clam Shell: 1,621+ spat/bu. clam shell (Range: 135 to 3,344 spat/bu.) Total Mean Spat/Bu. = 851 Bennies Sand - Grid 12 Received 15,828 bu. of spatted cultch Clam Shell: 1,272+ spat/bu. clam shell (Range: 384 to 2,540 spat/bu.) Total Mean Spat/Bu. = 844 Note: mean during poor recruitment period is only 21 spat/bu.

Outlook The program is designed to simply “jump-start” the process while increasing complimentary industry reinvestment. It will be self-sustaining! State & Federal assistance is needed for 4 to 5 years (until year 1 & 2 oysters become harvestable). Ship John Lighthouse

Just in case you have learned absolutely nothing from this presentation: Original Name of the Beach Boys: “Carl & the Passions”. “Forty-two percent of all statistics are made up” – Steven Wright, Fake Author, Comedian 95% of Americans put on the their left sock first. Fact: Kangaroos cannot back up. Fact: Americans consume 450 hot dogs every second.