Shellfish Mariculture in Drakes Estero, Point Reyes National Seashore, California

摘要

When Drakes Estero, which lies within the Point Reyes National Seashore (PRNS) about 25 miles northwest of San Francisco, California, was designated by Congress in 1976 as Potential Wilderness, it contained a commercial shellfish (nonnative oyster and clam) mariculture operation. Oyster mariculture began in Drakes Estero with the introduction of the nonnative Pacific oyster (Crassotrea gigas) in 1932, after the beds of the native Olympia oyster (Ostrea lurida) had been depleted throughout the region by overharvest, and has been conducted continuously from that date forward. Hence, the cultural history of oyster farming predates the designation of Point Reyes as a National Seashore in 1962. Nevertheless, with the approach of the 2012 expiration date of the current National Park Service (NPS) Reservation of Use and Occupancy (RUO) and Special Use Permit (SUP) that allows Drakes Bay Oyster Company (DBOC) to operate within the estero, NPS has expressed concern over the scope and intensity of impacts of the shellfish culture operations on the estero's ecosystem. Recent public documents produced by NPS characterizing the impacts of shellfish culturing in Drakes Estero have stimulated public debate over the pending expiration of the RUO and the presentation of scientific information that appeared to justify closing the oyster farm. The increasingly contentious nature of the debate led to the request for this study to help clarify the scientific issues raised with regard to the shellfish mariculture activities in Drakes Estero.