They reproduce in summer, spitting out gametes (reproductive cells) that deplete their heft and tastiness. Wild-caught oysters generally grow in clumps of long, thin, flat shells. What’s going on?įarming-that’s what’s going on. But that doesn’t seem to be the case these days. Most people know the rule that oysters are best in months that have an “r” in them, meaning that one avoids oysters in the spring and summer months of May, June, July and August. To me, oysters are out of season and not as tasty then. Most curious is that oyster bars now offer oysters in summer. It seems that oyster shells have gotten deeper and the oysters, fatter and tastier. Var getUrlParameter = function getUrlParameter(sParam) else if(fieldReqd & fieldVal.Eating oysters on the half shell out with friends, I’ve noticed a few changes over the years. Policy and Links| Non-Discrimination Statement | Information Quality | USA.gov | For information concerning shellfish aquaculture at VIMS, visit NRCS Home | | Site Map | Civil Rights | FOIA | Plain Writing | Accessibility Statement Interested individuals must submit a signed VMRC pre-approval form and complete an application with NRCS by May 7, 2021, to be considered for funding in FY2021.įor more information on EQIP and Virginia RCPP projects, visit To learn more about VMRC projects and activities, visit. Producers who receive services from the Accomac, Chesapeake, Gloucester, Quinton, Smithfield, Tappahannock and Warsaw NRCS service centers may be eligible to participate in this project. We are proud to continue this partnership to provide these producers with the financial and technical assistance they need to maintain their operations while also supporting long-term improvements in Bay water quality.” “They take much the same risks and work hard to bring in good yields that will sustain them another year. “Virginia watermen are farmers, too,” NRCS State Conservationist Dr. VIMS will also partner with VMRC to help oyster farmers locate the best sites and shell sources for oyster bed restoration on their leases. VIMS is offering its extensive technical experience along with a dedicated extension specialist who will facilitate community and partner outreach to promote environmentally friendly practices in the state’s shellfish aquaculture industry. Karen Hudson, VIMS’ shellfish aquaculture specialist, adds that this announcement offers “a great opportunity for Virginia’s spat-on-shell producers to continue to restore the bottom and get more oysters in the water.” The continuation of this program helps support and expand both.” “Oysters are also a keystone species for the Virginia aquaculture industry, which provides important economic contributions to many rural coastal communities throughout the Commonwealth. “Oysters are considered a keystone species in the Chesapeake Bay for the multitude of ecological benefits that result from healthy oyster populations,” said Andrew Button, VMRC’s head of conservation and replenishment. When that project ended, the commitment to Virginia oyster growers continued with the agency now making $260,000 available through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) to sustain these efforts. This new, improved approach to aquaculture yielded 40 contracts with Virginia growers (11 in Fiscal Year 2020). In the past three years alone, the agency provided $776,284 in financial assistance through a Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) project to support tidal bottom restoration on leased beds. Beds that lay dormant for decades are now being returned to service to support spat-on-shell production and a growing population of the bivalves, fish and other wildlife. In 2011, NRCS embarked on a journey with the Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC) and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) to help bring back native oysters lost to over-harvesting, disease and degraded habitat. Richmond, Va., Ap– If aquaculture is just agriculture with water, then a new opportunity from USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) could help “reconstitute” the ongoing effort to restore oyster beds on private shellfish grounds in the state’s portion of the Chesapeake Bay. Restoring oyster reefs below contributes to cleaner water above and a more vibrant Virginia shellfish aquaculture industry (VIMS photo). Bringing Back Virginia Oysters One Reef at a Time
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