LA oystering rebound; Others suffering

Louisiana’s oyster fishery is one of the bright spots in restoration of oyster habitats along the Gulf of Mexico since the 2010 BP oil spill, according to an assessment report released Nov. 14 by The Nature Conservancy. Along the Alabama and Mississippi coasts, oyster harvests have plummeted over the past decade, the report detailed. Louisiana’s oyster populations were decimated by oil disaster, but harvests have made positive strides toward recovery. The largest oil disaster in North America killed an estimated 8.3B oysters, mostly along Louisiana, according to a legal settlement reached with BP. The recent federal fisheries assessment indicates Louisiana’s oyster harvests are nearly as high as they were in 2009 - 15M pounds. Current prices are good: The average annual price per pound for Louisiana oysters is about $6, according to the assessment. Before the spill, a pound went for $3.40. In Alabama and Mississippi, a series of factors have taken a toll on oyster populations. About 13 years ago, Mississippi was harvesting nearly a half million sacks of oysters. Recent harvests were less than 10,000 sacks, according to the report. Alabama’s oyster fishery has been in decline since the 1950s, but recently has amplified reef restoration projects, oyster planting efforts, and improved monitoring. The conservancy is backing a host of oyster restoration projects across the Gulf region. (Source: NOLA.com 11/14/18)