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April 29, 2009
Stimulus money may help restore oyster habitat
By SUSAN WEST
 Watermen
and other workers in eastern North Carolina could see some federal
economic stimulus funds headed their way if the federal government
approves an oyster habitat restoration grant proposal submitted by the
North Carolina Coastal Federation.
The Coastal Federation, a non-profit active in coastal management
issues since 1982, has requested $15.5 million from the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to help rebuild oyster
reefs in Pamlico Sound and other waters. Other partners in the project
would include the state Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF), North
Carolina Sea Grant, and several universities.
The project would result in an estimated 204 short-term jobs, according
to Craig Hardy, head of the Resource Enhancement Section at DMF.
“The potential benefit for fisheries is great, so it’s very
likely that long-term jobs would be created or saved also,” said
Christine Miller, planning and communications director for the Coastal
Federation.
Oyster reefs provide habitat for fish, shrimp, clams, and blue crabs,
and oysters filter sediment, bacteria, and nutrients from the water.
Hardy said watermen would be paid on a per bushel basis for
transporting and deploying cultch material, such as recycled oyster
shells and limestone marl, to oyster reefs.
The program would also create work for quarry workers, truck drivers, barge operators, shipyard workers, and researchers.
More than 150,000 tons of material would be planted on 126 acres in
existing sanctuary reef locations, including those at Crab Hole, Bluff
Point, Clam Shoal, and Ocracoke.
Another 10,000 tons of cultch material would be placed at 10 harvest reef locations in Dare, Hyde, and other counties.
“This will allow North Carolina to achieve nearly 10 years of
oyster reef restoration work in 18 months,” Miller said.
The proposal also includes funds for a new, 130-foot self-propelled
barge that would be built in eastern North Carolina and used by DMF in
future reef restoration projects.
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provided NOAA with $167
million for marine and coastal habitat restoration projects, including
coral reef conservation and fisheries habitat restoration.
Miller said NOAA has reported receiving 802 proposals requesting a total of $2.98 billion.
NOAA is expected to announce habitat restoration grant awards in May.
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