Watermen To Get Three Extra Days To Harvest Oysters

Skipjack regulations also changed to allow flexibility and increase safety
The Department of Natural Resources has received approval from the Legislature's Administrative, Executive and Legislative Review Committee to make two changes in the department's oyster regulations. Acting on a request from the State's Tidal Fish Advisory Committee, this year watermen, using tongs, patent tongs and diving, will be allowed to harvest oysters from Sept. 25 through Sept. 27, prior to the traditional opening day of the oyster season, which was scheduled to start Oct. 2.

"Opening the season a few days early will provide some benefit to watermen who are struggling with the low crab harvests this summer," said DNR Fisheries Service Director Eric Schwaab.

The second regulatory change stems from a recommendation of the Governor's Skipjack Task Force. Currently skipjacks are only permitted to dredge under power on Mondays and Tuesdays, the rest of the week they must dredge under sail. In order to provide more flexibility for skipjack captains, and to allow them to avoid sailing under adverse conditions, captains will be allowed to pick which two days each week they would like to dredge under power.

There are only 10 skipjacks still harvesting oysters in the Chesapeake Bay, and they are responsible for only one percent of the oysters harvested commercially each year.

Posted: 9-20-2000