 |
Shellfish Gardeners | |
| of North Carolina |
|
Shellfish Gardeners | |
| of North Carolina |
Current News and Updates
Underdock Oyster Gardening - UDOC Workshop ~ Saturday, December 3, 2011 ~ 11:00am – 2:00pmWhat is UDOC? – a Division of Marine Fisheries program which permits individuals to grow oysters in floating cages under their dock.
Who is
eligible to participate? – at this
time you must be a dock owner in open waters. You should have a UDOC permit or applied for one if you wish
to participate in the workshop.
What do I
need to start? – a free permit
issued by DMF (applications are available at DMF or on-line at
http://www.ncfisheries.net/shellfish/UDOC1.htm , 2 or more cages, 1000 seed oysters, and a support group (SGNC)
Why should I do this?
Oysters clean water
Oysters provide habitat for other marine animals
Spat from oysters growing in cages will help restore wild oysters
Oysters grow twice as fast off the bottom, the seed you garden this year should be legal size in 12 months
Why should I join/contribute to SGNC?
SGNC provides a voice for shellfish gardeners
SGNC provides training and public awareness
SGNC provides a clearing house for ideas and questions
How much will it cost to grow my own oysters under my dock?
Approximately $45 to start and grow 1000 oysters from seed.
Discussion: to be determined
Workshop – we will build cages, and distribute seed oysters.
Approximate cost: $6.00 per cage, $20 to $30 for 1000 seed oysters.
Workshop is limited to 40 SGNC members, contact John Zimmerman via email zimmerjg@aol.com or phone 252 393-6514 for reservations. Email is preferred.
Cutoff is Novwember 18th. Membership forms will be available at the workshop or on-line at http://www.oysters-cleanwater.info/ . Agenda, what to bring, etc will follow.
In order to purchase seed oysters you should have a UDOC permit.
Severe Weather Plan
Ice – ice has not been a factor in this part of NC, if however we are undergoing an extremely severe cold winter and ice was likely to form I
would move the oyster cages to the deepest water under the dock and sink the cages.
Hurricanes – if a hurricane is likely to strike this area I would move the cages to high ground at least 12 hours before expected arrival. One of
my neighbors has volunteered to help. Based on past history of high tides during hurricanes I know where the extreme high tide line is. The
oyster cages would be transported at least 3 ft (elevation) past this line via wheelbarrow. If the storm is extremely fast moving I would remove
the cage flotation and sink the cages to the bottom, leaving the lines attached. It is estimated that this effort would not take more than 10
minutes.
In the News
John Davis, Wayne and Mary Grossnickle and John Zimmerman spent the day on the New River helping the Coastal Federation evaluate recently established oyster reefs.
Gary Williams and John Zimmerman were interviewed by
NPR as part of an article on restoring the oyster,
listen at http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/pre/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=1158172
SPAT Collection
A number of our members have decided to use seeded shells instead of oyster seed in their cages. SPAT can be collected a number of ways - bags, PVC pipe dipped in cement, etc. It is best to put out the collector in early June. Some members do not live in areas that currently have oysters. Other members live in areas of high SPAT. We would like to establish partnership for SPAT collection. The non SPAT area folks could bring collectors to your dock in June and pick them up in August. If you are willing to serve as a Surrogate SPAT MOM (SSM) please let me know. This will be a great way of increasing the NC Oysters.
Contact John Zimmerman – zimmerjg@aol.com, 252 393-6514 if interested
Permits
Does anyone have any recent experience with the permit process? There is a possibility that I may be able to meet the new DMF chief and that is one thing I would talk about. I realize it is a pain but you should do it.
Shellfish Gardeners of North Carolina
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This page was last updated on April 28, 2011