Nonnative Oysters in the Chesapeake Bay (2004) / Chapter Skim
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5. Social and Economic Value of Oysters in the Chesapeake Bay
5. Social and Economic Value of Oysters in the Chesapeake Bay
Pages 100-119
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From page 100... ...
Demand grew and harvesting capacity expanded through the end of the 19th century. Oyster harvests peaked in the 1870s and 1880s with the commencement of dredging on deep channel reefs and then began a precipitous decline, falling by nearly 60% between 1880 and 1930.
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From page 101... ...
For 1980 the total dockside value of the Chesapeake oyster harvest was $29.3 million. In 2001 it was $4.3 million (National Marine Fisheries Service [NMFS]
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From page 102... ...
bThe VMRC estimates Virigina harvest per manday at 3 to 6 bushels. CVirginia income estimates may be biased downward because not all license holders may be selling oysters.
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From page 103... ...
SOURCE: Data from the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS, 2003~.
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From page 104... ...
Because Virginia does not track the number of man-days of effort for oyster harvests, it is not possible to compare changes in catch per unit effort for Virginia oystermen. Nevertheless, based on reported estimates that Virginia oystermen average 3 to 6 bushels per man-day of effort (J.
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From page 105... ...
Licenses can be bought to maintain the option of entering the fishery if conditions improve. Since Virginia oyster harvest licenses cost less than $70 in 2001, purchasing a license can be viewed as an inexpensive investment that ensures an option to access the fishery and serves as evidence of interest should the state choose to implement a license limitation program or seek disaster assistance on behalf of oystermen who have been adversely impacted by the decline in oyster populations.
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From page 106... ...
At the same time, the real price of Chesapeake Bay oysters declined by 24%, despite the fact that the Chesapeake oyster harvest declined by 55% over the period. The Chesapeake 22,500 20,000 1 7,500 1 5,000 1 2,500 1 0,000 7,500 5,000 2~500 O 'it , '~ ~0~ o ~ — _ 1 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 Total Supply (U.S.
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From page 107... ...
Many Virginia and Maryland processors have begun to rely increasingly on oysters from outside the region to meet their needs. In a survey of processors conducted during 1991, it was found that 31% of Maryland respondents and 53% of Virginia respondents handled Gulf of Mexico oysters.
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From page 108... ...
virginica it is important to include both economic and sociocultural data at the industry- or fisherywide and household or community levels. Maryland During the 60 years before oyster diseases became a dominant factor in the 1980s, harvests in the Maryland portion of the Chesapeake Bay supported an annual commercial fishery of approximately 2 million bushels (Chesapeake Bay Program, 2002~.
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From page 109... ...
Description of these different gear types can be found in Kennedy (2002~. In terms of the number of Maryland license holders selling oysters in 1999, the peak harvest period for the past decade, 2,520 Maryland watermen sold oysters, while in 2002 only 915 watermen reported an oyster harvest (C.
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From page 110... ...
, if the blue crab harvest or market prices drop off. The oyster fishery, even at its currently reduced levels, is an economic safety valve for Maryland watermen and can reduce harvest pressure on the blue crab, which is a fishery management priority (additional blue crab harvest regulations have been issued over the past 3 years to help ensure a 15% spawning stock)
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From page 111... ...
But you can always get a few bushels to put some food on the table." Finally, with the arrival of the new year, as weather worsens and market prices drop, Maryland watermen begin to shift their efforts to preparing crab pots and boats for the upcoming crab season. The loss of the oyster fishery for Maryland watermen would be a severe blow to their efforts to continue the livelihood and traditions of watermen communities.
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From page 112... ...
Many of the household sociocultural and economic factors related to oystering described above for Maryland watermen also apply to Virginia watermen. Winter oystering on public grounds or private beds provides small amounts of much-needed income during late fall and winter; an earlier shift to fall oystering reduces fishing pressure on the blue crab; most oystering is familybased with minimal effort required to rerig for oystering; and oystering continues to be a fishing occupation central to the heritage and identity of watermen communities.
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From page 113... ...
SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC VALUE TABLE 5.2 Distribition of Virginia Oyster Harvest, Private vs. Public Beds 113 PUBLIC PRIVATE YEAR LANDINGS (BU)
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From page 114... ...
RECREATIONAL AND AMENITY BENEFITS The Chesapeake Bay supports a wealth of recreational activities and amenity services that are directly or indirectly related to the abundance and distribution of oysters. The benefits of these activities and services can be characterized as flows of use, option, and nonuse benefits through time.
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From page 115... ...
The direct benefits of water quality improvements include increased use, option, and nonuse benefits associated with improved recreational opportunities and enhanced amenity values (Greenley et al., 1982; Smith and Desvouges, 1986~. Indirect benefits of water quality improvement arise when the improved water quality reduces the costs of production or increases the value of products that depend on the water body as an input in production or a repository for byproducts of production.
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From page 116... ...
The magnitude of recreational and amenity benefits are also positively correlated with water quality improvements through the effect of water quality on reduced health concerns regarding the consumption of oysters and finfish (Keithly and Diop, 2001a, 2001b; lakus et al., 2002~. In addition, the extent of submerged aquatic vegetation is linked to the abundance of finfish and shellfish populations exploited by commercial and recreational fishermen.
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From page 117... ...
The potential gains in use and option benefits depend on current water quality levels, the response of participants to increases in water quality, and the rate at which average net benefits per trip increase in response to improved water quality. to 1 en to To the extent that introduction of nonnative oysters leads to improved water quality, desirable substrate characteristics, and increased abundance of waterfowl populations and fish and shellfish stocks, the introduction will lead to increased use and option benefits.
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From page 118... ...
increased by 15% from 1991 to 2001. At the same time, the real price of Chesapeake Bay oysters declined by 24%, despite the fact that the bay's oyster harvest declined by 55% over the period.
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From page 119... ...
Recreational and amenity benefits associated with the Chesapeake Bay are large relative to the dockside value of recent commercial oyster harvests. Because the magnitude of recreational and amenity benefits is closely linked to water quality, management actions that reduce the level of nutrient inputs or that accelerate the rate of nutrient clearing can be expected to yield increased recreational and amenity benefits.
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