WWL.com
A new report indicates the oyster population continues to struggle along the Gulf Coast. Coastal and marine conservation director at the Nature Conservatory Seth Blitch said the industry connected with oysters in all gulf coast states has struggled in the time since the 2010 oil spill.
“Here in Louisiana, we’ve rebounded fairly well since the spill in 2010, but I think if you talk to most people in the industry, they are not where they’d like to be and selling as much as they’d like to be,” said Blitch.
Blitch said several factors have contributed to the decline in the population such as the oil spill, hurricanes, and a lack of dynamic salinity levels in the water.
“When changes in water supply are altered, that hurts. With Louisiana being a place with such profound land loss, a lot of times that alters how water makes it to the coast,” said Blitch.
Blitch said the oyster population’s importance extends beyond just the business side of the harvesting the shellfish.
“Oyster reefs are really critical in maintaining and improving water quality in coastal waters. And oysters has a habitat are important for all kinds of species of fish, crabs, and shrimp,” said Blitch.