CONSERVATION AND REPLENISHMENT DEPARTMENT

The Conservation and Replenishment Department is tasked with the management and replenishment of the public oyster grounds in Virginia. The Department Chief with the assistance of an Advisory Committee develops strategies to improve and restore the public oyster grounds. Restoration activities include the spreading of cultch as oyster setting substrate, rejuvenation of old oyster beds using dredges, creation of oyster reefs for optimal oyster habitat, and the movement of oysters from seed areas to grow-out areas. The Department systematically and scientifically monitors all the restoration activities to determine their success.

Management strategies are developed and regulations promulgated to conserve the oyster resources using season and time limits, catch limits, and gear restrictions. Conservation and Replenishment personnel also coordinate all shellfish relaying information to ensure compliance with the Code of Virginia and FDA guidelines for handling shellfish taken from condemned shellfish areas.

Related Links:

2009 Replenishment Program procurement notices

Testimony by Dr. Jim Wesson to Congress on October 14, 2003

Virginia Seafood Council Ariakensis Project

Virginia Oyster Heritage Program

Tidewater Oyster Gardeners Association (TOGA)

Historical Oyster Production Table: Public and Private Landings from 1957 - 2001.

Manual for Remote Setting - This project and the manual was funded by the Virginia Fishery Resource Grant Program, www.vims.edu/adv/frg. It was conducted in cooperation with 10 Virginia seafood companies and in conjunction with private industry which provided realistic expectations and estimates of expenses.