tion in North Carolina over the last 20 years 

 and help determine which reefs have survived 

 and why," says Powers, a former postdoctoral 

 researcher at the Institute for Marine Sciences. 

 "Any effort to restore oyster populations must con- 

 sider how the disease dynamics will influence the 

 survivorship and growth of oysters in a specific 

 area and develop strategies to overcome disease- 

 related problems." 



Now, the only strategies used to combat 

 oyster disease in native populations include the 

 early harvest of small mature oysters and the se- 

 lection of areas for oyster transplant or restoration 

 that are at least 0.4 kilometers from other infected 

 beds, according to Peterson. Also, managers and 

 fishers can monitor beds infected with Dermo to 

 determine when harvesting is necessary. 



Hardy says the Sea Grant study will help 

 guide the DMF oyster restoration in deep subtidtal 

 areas, particularly in the Pamlico Sound and 

 Neuse River. 



"The degraded condition of 

 the state's estuaries and the 

 decline of the oyster population 



over the last 1 □ to 15 years 

 has heightened the awareness of 



the importance of oysters 



not only as a seafood product 



for harvest, but also as a 

 very important link in a healthy, 

 productive ecosystem." 

 — Craig Hardy 



"The degraded condition of the state's 

 estuaries and the decline of the oyster 

 population over the last 10 to 15 years has 

 heightened the awareness of the importance 

 of oysters — not only as a seafood product for 

 harvest, but also as a very important link in a 

 healthy, productive ecosystem," he explains. 



"The value of oysters in increasing 



habitat through reef construction and providing 

 additional areas for SAV and the water quality 

 benefits provided by filter feeding may equal or 

 exceed their value as a seafood product," adds 

 Hardy. 



Because the decline of the oyster stock 

 and degradation of the estuaries over the last 

 100 years resulted from many factors, Hardy 

 says the rebuilding of the oyster stock — along 

 with the restoration of oyster habitats and 

 estuarine function — will take many years. 



To revive the oyster fishery, a variety 

 of issues needs to be addressed, including 

 harvesting and management of reefs. 



"Oyster restoration cannot be successful 

 without responsible development, farming and 

 forestry practices, wastewater treatment and 

 stormwater runoff controls," Hardy adds. 



"In short, we have to address all the fac- 

 tors that have contributed to the decline in order 

 to be successful in restoration." □ 



