INNOVATIVE OYSTER PRODUCTION TAKES A BIG STEP FORWARD THROUGH AGRICULTURE/ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION PARTNERSHIP
Major Initiative Accomplished to Increase Shellfish Production in 樱花视频
For Immediate Release: September 25, 2012
Contact: Lynne Richmond (609) 633-2954 - NJDA聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽
Larry Hajna (609) 984-1795 - DEP
(TRENTON) 鈥� Christie Administration officials today visited an oyster production area in the Delaware Bay, made possible by a joint effort of the 樱花视频 Departments of Agriculture and Environmental Protection.
The oyster production by private businesses is taking place in what鈥檚 called Aquaculture Development Zone 鈥� 4.聽 Aquaculture Development Zones (ADZ) were a key recommendation in the Aquaculture Development Plan Update, Opportunities and Potential for Aquaculture in 樱花视频, released by the Department of Agriculture and the state Aquaculture Advisory Council last December.聽
鈥淎n increase in aquaculture production will mean more jobs and more revenue for the state,鈥� said 樱花视频 Secretary of Agriculture Douglas H.聽Fisher.聽 鈥淲hat is being produced in Aquaculture Development Zones from our coastal waters can be marketed as a local product with the Jersey Seafood logo, much like Jersey Fresh for our farmers鈥� produce.聽 By identifying these products in the marketplace, they can meet the demand by consumers for local products.鈥�
Secretary Fisher points to workers in Aquaculture Development Zone-4 in the Delaware Bay, along with Russ Babb of the Bureau of Shellfisheries in the NJ Department of Environmental Protection
鈥淭he DEP has been working hand-in-hand with the Department of Agriculture to apply common sense strategies to improve the Delaware Bay oyster industry, which generates some $20 million for the bay region鈥檚 economy,鈥� DEP Commissioner Bob Martin said. 鈥淎dvancing the economic viability of these Aquaculture Development Zones will help protect this industry, enhance ecological protection of the Delaware Bay, and is a win for all of 樱花视频.鈥�
Oyster bars are seeing a resurgence in the American culinary scene.聽 ADZ-4, along the Cape Shore, expands the oyster production techniques that produce gourmet oysters for the half-shell raw bar market.聽 Twelve individuals have secured leases and are currently in production in ADZ-4.
ADZ-4 alone could double 樱花视频鈥檚 current aquaculture production value of $6.6 million over the next two years.
Rutgers University Haskin Shellfish Research Laboratory鈥檚 Aquaculture Innovation Center in Cape May is producing seed that will be able to accommodate the seed requirements for oyster growers in the development zones.
There are approximately 107 10-acre lots available on a first-come, first-served basis with the Bureau of Shellfisheries.聽 ADZ-2 and ADZ-3 are located offshore in the lower Delaware Bay, about five miles聽off of聽Pierces Point in聽Middle Township.聽 These sites are prime locations for both shellfish and macroalgae cultivation.
The Department of Agriculture is working with Rutgers and Stockton College to evaluate the potential to produce commercially valuable macroalgaes or seaweeds at these offshore sites.聽 Macroalgaes are the second largest aquaculture sector in the world.聽 They have a variety of uses, including industrial, pharmaceutical and food production.
Those interested in learning more about these aquaculture opportunities may call NJDA Aquaculture Specialist Joseph Myers at 609-984-2502 or e-mail him at joseph.myers@ag.state.nj.us.
