NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries) recently announced that the agency will fund an oyster restoration project in North Carolina.
North Carolina Coastal Federation, Inc. will receive $35,000 in funding. During the project, the Federation will work with local fishermen in North Carolina to create new oyster reefs from recycled derelict crab pots.
source: NOAA Fisheries
Showing posts with label shellfish. Show all posts
Showing posts with label shellfish. Show all posts
Friday, November 8, 2013
Saturday, January 12, 2013
2013 North Carolina Recreational Bay Scallop Season
In North Carolina, recreational harvesting of bay scallops will be allowed in 2013. The approved harvesting area includes Bogue Sound and internal coastal waters south of Bogue Sound to the South Carolina state line.
The Bogue Sound bay scallop season will open at 7:30 a.m. Jan. 28 and close at 4 p.m. April 1.
Recreational harvest will be allowed from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday of each week. Recreational fishermen may harvest a limit of one bushel per person per day, not to exceed one bushel if two or more fishermen are working from one vessel.
During this time, commercial harvest will be allowed from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday and Wednesday of each week. Commercial fishermen may harvest 10 bushels per person per day, not to exceed 20 bushels per vessel, regardless of the number of licensed fishermen working together on a vessel.
Recreational harvest limits cannot be combined with commercial harvest limits.
For specific regulations, see Proclamation SC-1-2013 at http://portal.ncdenr.org/web/mf/proclamations
For more information, contact Tina Moore, with the Division of Marine Fisheries, at 252-808-8082 or Tina.Moore@ncdenr.gov.
source: North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries
The Bogue Sound bay scallop season will open at 7:30 a.m. Jan. 28 and close at 4 p.m. April 1.
Recreational harvest will be allowed from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday of each week. Recreational fishermen may harvest a limit of one bushel per person per day, not to exceed one bushel if two or more fishermen are working from one vessel.
During this time, commercial harvest will be allowed from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday and Wednesday of each week. Commercial fishermen may harvest 10 bushels per person per day, not to exceed 20 bushels per vessel, regardless of the number of licensed fishermen working together on a vessel.
Recreational harvest limits cannot be combined with commercial harvest limits.
For specific regulations, see Proclamation SC-1-2013 at http://portal.ncdenr.org/web/mf/proclamations
For more information, contact Tina Moore, with the Division of Marine Fisheries, at 252-808-8082 or Tina.Moore@ncdenr.gov.
source: North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries
Saturday, October 6, 2012
Harris Creek Oyster Sanctuary
During the 2012 season, Maryland initiated oyster plantings aimed at fulfilling the goals set by federal agencies to restore oyster habitat and populations in 20 Bay tributaries by 2025.
Workers deployed 634 million spat on shell in Maryland’s portion of the Chesapeake Bay, with most of those deployed into the Harris Creek oyster sanctuary.
The effort involved the Oyster Recovery Partnership (ORP), the University of Maryland Horn Point Lab Hatchery (UMD HPL), along with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the Army Corps of Engineers Baltimore District
Nearly one third of the 360 acre goal in Harris Creek has been planted with enhanced substrate and spat on shell. In addition, portions of the Upper Bay were restocked with oysters after last year’s wide-scale mortality from excessive fresh water.
Harris Creek, a tributary of the Choptank River, is the first river targeted for large-scale, tributary-based oyster restoration. This area was chosen collaboratively by Maryland DNR, Army Corps Baltimore District and NOAA because of its high likelihood to succeed. Construction of the Harris Creek oyster sanctuary is funded primarily by Maryland DNR, the Army Corps and NOAA.
source: Oyster Recovery Partnership
Workers deployed 634 million spat on shell in Maryland’s portion of the Chesapeake Bay, with most of those deployed into the Harris Creek oyster sanctuary.
The effort involved the Oyster Recovery Partnership (ORP), the University of Maryland Horn Point Lab Hatchery (UMD HPL), along with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the Army Corps of Engineers Baltimore District
Nearly one third of the 360 acre goal in Harris Creek has been planted with enhanced substrate and spat on shell. In addition, portions of the Upper Bay were restocked with oysters after last year’s wide-scale mortality from excessive fresh water.
Harris Creek, a tributary of the Choptank River, is the first river targeted for large-scale, tributary-based oyster restoration. This area was chosen collaboratively by Maryland DNR, Army Corps Baltimore District and NOAA because of its high likelihood to succeed. Construction of the Harris Creek oyster sanctuary is funded primarily by Maryland DNR, the Army Corps and NOAA.
source: Oyster Recovery Partnership
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Harris Creek Oyster Restoration
Harris Creek, a tributary of the Choptank River, will be the site for the first large-scale, tributary-based oyster restoration project in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
Harris creek was chosen by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Army Corps Baltimore District, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) because of its high likelihood to succeed. The same team is developing a scientific “blueprint” to guide restoration in the creek.
The project will include the planting of oysters on nearly 100 acres in 2012, with a long term goal of restoring 300-600 acres. The Army Corps is also scheduled to plant 20 acres of new shell and stone substrate to enhance the river bottom to support the new oyster reefs.
If current funding levels continue, the restoration project should take between 2-5 years to complete. Funds for these restoration activities are provided primarily by DNR, the Army Corps and NOAA.
source: MD DNR
Harris creek was chosen by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Army Corps Baltimore District, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) because of its high likelihood to succeed. The same team is developing a scientific “blueprint” to guide restoration in the creek.
The project will include the planting of oysters on nearly 100 acres in 2012, with a long term goal of restoring 300-600 acres. The Army Corps is also scheduled to plant 20 acres of new shell and stone substrate to enhance the river bottom to support the new oyster reefs.
If current funding levels continue, the restoration project should take between 2-5 years to complete. Funds for these restoration activities are provided primarily by DNR, the Army Corps and NOAA.
source: MD DNR
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Watermen to Restore Chesapeake Bay Oyster Bars
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and The Oyster Recovery Partnership (ORP) are continuing to work with commercial fishermen on oyster bar rehabilitation projects. The program is a part a Maryland plan to help mitigate the economic impact of regulations enacted in 2008 to help rebuild the blue crab fishery, while also helping to restore the Chesapeake Bay.
The program utilizes the skills, experience and equipment of Chesapeake Bay watermen to increase the amount of viable oyster bar habitat in the estuary. The rehabilitated oyster bars will create habitat for a natural spat set and/or hatchery seed plantings in both sanctuaries and public shellfish fishery areas. The program also provides watermen with income for helping with oyster restoration.
This spring, more than 750 Maryland watermen will restore 23 oyster bars in the Chesapeake Bay and will reclaim more than 1,000 acres of buried oyster shell.
A number of the oyster bars slated for rehabilitation are located within new sanctuary areas that were created by the Oyster Restoration and Aquaculture Development Plan. These areas include Harris Creek, Eastern Bay, and the Little Choptank, Nanticoke and Manokin Rivers.
source: MD DNR
The program utilizes the skills, experience and equipment of Chesapeake Bay watermen to increase the amount of viable oyster bar habitat in the estuary. The rehabilitated oyster bars will create habitat for a natural spat set and/or hatchery seed plantings in both sanctuaries and public shellfish fishery areas. The program also provides watermen with income for helping with oyster restoration.
This spring, more than 750 Maryland watermen will restore 23 oyster bars in the Chesapeake Bay and will reclaim more than 1,000 acres of buried oyster shell.
A number of the oyster bars slated for rehabilitation are located within new sanctuary areas that were created by the Oyster Restoration and Aquaculture Development Plan. These areas include Harris Creek, Eastern Bay, and the Little Choptank, Nanticoke and Manokin Rivers.
source: MD DNR
Friday, April 1, 2011
How to Rake Quahog Clams
Quahog clams are found in saltwater bays and estuaries in every Mid-Atlantic state. These delicious clams can be caught with clam rakes or by other methods.
Raking quahog clams is a relaxing activity that can be enjoyed by the entire family. Aside from a rake, a container and a pair of sneakers, not much is required in the way of equipment. Raking clams is usually done from spring through fall as harvesters must get wet in order to effectively catch clams.
Raking clams can be done in a variety of water depths and bottom compositions, although some areas and water conditions are more productive than others.
The best areas for raking clams are usually shallow with a smooth, sandy or slightly muddy bottom. Several types of bottoms may contain clams, but are not suitable for clamming. For example, extremely hard bottoms are difficult to penetrate with a rake. Other areas may be covered with aquatic vegetation, shells or other debris, all of which make raking difficult or impossible.
Some clammers prefer to work during an outgoing tide. A flowing tide often helps clear the water so that the bottom can be seen while wading along. Clamming can be done even if there is poor visibility but seeing the bottom can be helpful. Low tides allow clammers to comfortably work farther from shore, where clams are sometimes more plentiful.
Raking quahog clams is a relaxing activity that can be enjoyed by the entire family. Aside from a rake, a container and a pair of sneakers, not much is required in the way of equipment. Raking clams is usually done from spring through fall as harvesters must get wet in order to effectively catch clams.
Raking clams can be done in a variety of water depths and bottom compositions, although some areas and water conditions are more productive than others.
The best areas for raking clams are usually shallow with a smooth, sandy or slightly muddy bottom. Several types of bottoms may contain clams, but are not suitable for clamming. For example, extremely hard bottoms are difficult to penetrate with a rake. Other areas may be covered with aquatic vegetation, shells or other debris, all of which make raking difficult or impossible.
Some clammers prefer to work during an outgoing tide. A flowing tide often helps clear the water so that the bottom can be seen while wading along. Clamming can be done even if there is poor visibility but seeing the bottom can be helpful. Low tides allow clammers to comfortably work farther from shore, where clams are sometimes more plentiful.
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