This winter may be a bit tough for our local watermen. Since last winter, new rules were set for this year’s oystering season. The state has limited the amount of oyster beds that harvesters are permitted to collect oysters from.
Watermen are expecting about a 10% decrease in available oysters and their incomes. State officials say that the oyster sanctuaries in our area need to grow and reproduce and over-harvesting this winter may prevent that from happening. By allowing the oyster beds to flourish and remain untouched this winter season, the sanctuaries of shellfish will be come resistant to more diseases and increase reproduction.
The goal is to let the oysters take a few months to replenish their habitats so that in the future our waterman can reap the benefit of having a perfect place to collect healthy oysters. This season’s harvest will be at an all-time record low. With careful planning by the state’s officials and our watermen, we hope that the next few seasons of oystering will be much higher.
Some watermen are furious about the decision while others think that it is a positive initiative. The oyster season opened on Friday.
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