WNJ Exclusive: State forces Baykeeper to kill oyster program
Yesterday NY/NJ Baykeeper removed oysters from its Keyport Harbor in order to comply with an order from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP). This experimental project was the largest in-water oyster research project in the NY/NJ Harbor Estuary and Baykeeper staff and Rutgers University were just beginning to gather important scientific data to assess the feasibility of large-scale oyster restoration efforts in the area's waterbodies.
“This is a project that was permitted by NJDEP just last year. Because it was so successful a few oysters
reached market size, triggering a condition in our permit that allowed NJDEP to order their removal,” said Debbie Mans, Baykeeper and Executive Director, NY/NJ Baykeeper. “Despite repeated assurances from NJDEP that they wanted to work with us to continue the program, all of our suggestions for securing the reef from the public or relocation have been rebuffed.”
“This is a project that was permitted by NJDEP just last year. Because it was so successful a few oysters
reached market size, triggering a condition in our permit that allowed NJDEP to order their removal,” said Debbie Mans, Baykeeper and Executive Director, NY/NJ Baykeeper. “Despite repeated assurances from NJDEP that they wanted to work with us to continue the program, all of our suggestions for securing the reef from the public or relocation have been rebuffed.”
Posted by WILDNEWJERSEY at 8/10/2010 4:00 PM 
Categories: WNJ Exclusives
Tags: ny/nj baykeeper njdep rutgers university oyster research keyport harbor baykeeper
Categories: WNJ Exclusives
Tags: ny/nj baykeeper njdep rutgers university oyster research keyport harbor baykeeper
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