The 1990 National Shellfish Register 



the natural waters directly without 

 significant improvements in overall 

 estuarine water quality (Costagna, 

 1987). 



State Programs 



The data compiled in the Register are 

 primarily a synthesis of the information 

 and knowledge accumulated on an 

 almost daily basis by State shellfish 

 management agencies. Conse- 

 quently, the quality of data presented 

 is directly related to the resources 

 available to conduct shellfish manage- 

 ment responsibilities. Since State 

 resources vary, the availability and 

 detail of shellfish-related information 

 varies. For example, sampling station 

 density ranges from just 33 acres per 

 station in Washington to 5,288 acres 

 per station in Louisiana. Table 6 

 shows how shellfish-producing states 

 compare in acres managed and 

 survey and sampling activities. 

 Appendix F provides data on budgets 

 and sampling stations. 



Shellfish-growing waters classified as 

 conditionally approved require the 

 most management resources. These 

 areas are opened or closed on the 

 basis of rainfall or river stage estab- 

 lished in a current FDA-certified plan. 

 Plans for conditionally approved areas 

 must be updated and supported by 

 extensive sampling. Areas classified 

 as approved do not require a manage- 

 ment plan but do require sampling. 

 State budget shortfalls usually lead 

 first to a curtailment of field sampling 

 and then to administrative down- 

 grades in many conditionally approved 

 (or even approved) areas. 



Conditionally approved areas are 

 often the most productive, and closing 

 such areas typically reduces landings. 

 The 1 1 states which had no budget 

 increase between 1985 and 1990 

 (Appendix F) manage about 45 

 percent of the Nation's approved and 

 conditionally approved acreage, and 

 also produce about 45 percent of the 

 Nation's total value of shellfish har- 

 vest. 



Each year since 1985 the Interstate 

 Shellfish Sanitation Conference has 

 expanded the NSSP regulatory 

 guidelines that define the responsibili- 

 ties of State shellfish management 

 programs. In addition, the Congress 

 is considering mandatory seafood 

 inspection requirements. Given 

 budget trends in State shellfish 

 programs since 1985, many states 

 may not have adequate resources to 

 keep up with these expanding regula- 

 tory demands. This could lead to 

 further administrative reductions in 

 approved and conditionally approved 

 harvesting areas. 



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