Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID 2006DE78B

Assessment of Macro-infauna Associated with Oyster (Crassostrea virginica) Aquaculture in the Indian River Bay

Institute: Delaware
Year Established: 2006 Start Date: 2006-06-01 End Date: 2007-02-28
Total Federal Funds: $3,500 Total Non-Federal Funds: $7,000

Principal Investigators: Gulnihal Ozbay

Project Summary: This past century has witnessed dramatic declines in oysters throughout the mid-Atlantic due to overfishing, reef destruction, sedimentation and disease. The culture of oysters (C. virginica) in containment gear has become a viable industry in many states on the East coast of the US and some have proposed that operations of this type can provide many of the same ecological services attributed to natural or restored reefs. This project is designed to examine the impacts of oyster aquaculture farms on infaunal community structure. There is a limited body of knowledge concerning the ecological impacts of oyster aquaculture farms especially in the Mid-Atlantic U.S. More information about possible benefits and detriments to estuarine ecosystems will help to shape the future fate and structure of shellfish aquaculture in the state of Delaware and elsewhere. Along with social and economic considerations this information will aid decision-makers, interest groups and the general public in formulating opinions and policies on this emerging industry. The overall objective is to compare the diversity, evenness, abundance and biomass of macro-infaunal species inhabiting a subtidal oyster cultivation area with adjacent open sand flat.