Quote:
Originally Posted by MathGeek
This statement ignores the plain fact that the ecosystem benefits of oyster reefs are not only related to the biomass of living oysters, but are also strongly related to the physical structure of oyster reefs providing valuable habitat for benthic invertebrates.
Studies have shown that tonging for oysters preserves the reef structure and the habitat benefits nearly as well as not harvesting the oysters at all. In contrast dredging destroys the reefs and results in most of the calcified material getting buried in the muck and mud resulting in a much less dynamic benthic ecosystem. Further, all the silt stirred up negatively impacts light penetration and photosynthesis.
It is much better to think about the ecosystem in terms of the food web. Everything about harvesting with tongs is better for the food web than dredging.
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there is nothing wrong with the ecosystem as it is. The fisheries is obviously not hurting. The number of guides on the lake has increased exponentially over last few years so clearly the fish aren't hurting. People want oysters, they will get oysters. LDWF will continue to seed them in and they will all be harvested. Just like trees, rice, and sugarcane. You plant them and harvest them all and then repeat