March 9, 2015 — The following was released by the office of Congressman Walter Jones:
Today, Congressman Walter B. Jones (NC-3) asked federal and state regulators to review shellfish lease permitting policies that are more restrictive than those in neighboring states like Virginia and may be hurting efforts to grow the industry in North Carolina. In a letter sent today to Colonel Kevin P. Landers, Sr., at the Army Corps of Engineers – Wilmington District, and Secretary Donald R. van der Vaart at the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Congressman Jones points out that the Wilmington District has adopted a zero tolerance policy for eelgrass disturbance that goes beyond the policy the Corps uses nationwide, including in Virginia. Congressman Jones went on to explain that according to North Carolina shellfish growers who have contacted him, this policy is of questionable scientific merit and is inhibiting North Carolina growers from obtaining leases to cultivate shellfish in the state. As a result, North Carolina must import 75 percent of oysters consumed in the state and only produces $1 million in cultured shellfish per year while Virginia produces $45 million in clams and oysters per year.
“We all share the responsibility for balancing the protection of Eastern North Carolina’s coastal environment while creating jobs and growing our economy,” said Congressman Jones. “North Carolina shellfish growers have made a compelling case for how we might be able to do a better job of achieving that goal, and federal and state regulators ought to look into it. Based on initial conversations, I am confident they will.”
For more information, click here to read a letter to Congressman Jones from the North Carolina Shellfish Growers Association on these regulations.