Stocks of the Chesapeake Bay's native oyster Crassostrea virginica are at all time lows due to past fishing pressure and dramatically increasing impacts of two diseases on remaining populations, from MSX and Dermo. Recent successes in controlled experiments with the sterile Suminoe oyster Crassostrea ariakensis indicated that this non-indigenous oyster can grow rapidly in Bay waters, experience little disease infection, and produce meat acceptable to potential consumers. The successes, in turn, have increased regional consideration for the introduction of this oyster into the Bay in managed aquaculture operations and possibly as reproductive, diploid populations. However, many unknowns accompany the introduction of any non-native species to a new ecosystem, leading to regional concerns for independent expert assessment of the impacts of such an activity.

Through requests from the regional research, management, and industry communities, the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) recently agreed to "…examine the ecological and socio-economic risks and benefits of open water aquaculture or direct introduction of the non-native oyster, Crassostrea ariakensis, in the Chesapeake Bay." Through support from the US EPA, NOAA, US FWS, MD DNR, Virginia Sea Grant, Maryland Sea Grant, and Connecticut Sea Grant, the NAS has convened an experts committee to review all pertinent information relevant to this issue. As part of this effort to gather as much information as possible, the Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee (STAC) of the Chesapeake Bay Program (CBP) co-sponsored with the NAS a two day meeting that convened regional researchers, managers, watermen, and industry representatives to provide short summaries of Crassostrea ariakensis related materials for NAS Committee deliberations. Meeting topics were derived from submitted suggestions and Committee needs. For additional information on the NAS effort, please visist the NAS Non-native Oyster Project Webpage.

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Non-native Oysters in the Chespeake Bay Workshop Presentations

Victor Kennedy, University of Maryland          History of the Oyster Fishery in Chesapeake Bay     Roger Newell, University of Maryland          Understanding the Influence of Bivalve Suspension-feeder Populations of Water Quality          in Eutrophic Coastal Waters     Mark Luckenbach, Virginia Institute of Marine Science          Evaluating the Ecological Consequences Associated with Crassostrea ariakensis          Introduction into Chesapeake Bay    Eileen Hofmann, Old Dominion University          Larval Transport    Gene Burreson, Virginia Institute of Marine Science          What is the Potential for Introducing a New Disease (Human or Oyster)? How do you          Detect Viruses?    Patrick Gaffney, University of Delaware          Selective Breading for Disease Resistance in Crassostrea virginica    Stan Allen, Virginia Institute of Marine Science          Use of Disease-resistant Native Oysters in Restoration    Ken Paynter, University of Maryland          Is Oyster Restoration Working in Maryland?    Roger Mann, Virginia Institute of Marine Science          Oyster Restoration in Virginia: Has it Been a Success?    Douglas Lipton, University of Maryland          Chesapeake Bay Oyster Economics    Eric Hallerman, Virginia Polytechnic Institute          A Demographic Simulation Model for Assessing and Managing Risks Posed by Proposed           Deployment of Triploid Suminoe Oysters in the Chesapeake Bay    Tom Kellum, W.E. Kellum Seafood           An Industry Perspective