Virginia takes step toward large oyster study

“Never, never in my 30-plus years of being associated with the commercial industry have I ever seen such remarkable impositions put on a group that's actually growing something”

More than 1 million sterile Asian oysters may be heading to the Chesapeake Bay , as Virginia moved closer this week to approving its largest study yet on the foreign species.

The Virginia Seafood Council, which has conducted smaller experiments on the Asian oyster since 2000, has asked for state approval to put 1.3 million oysters in Virginia's portion of the bay and its tributaries. The oysters would be contained in mesh bags and secure cages. Researchers want to determine whether the oysters, also known as Crassostrea ariakensis, would be a suitable crop for aquaculture. Read more