THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, October 21, 1996 TAG: 9610180020
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A6 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: 20 lines
On Sept. 24, the Virginia Marine Resources Commission voted to open Tangier and Pocomoke sounds to the dredging of oysters. The close 5-4 vote by the commissioners should be reconsidered at the next meeting.
Last year, VMRC unwisely reopened the Rappahannock River to oystering and only 121 bushels were harvested in the 1995-96 season. During the 1985-86 season, 715,000 bushels of oysters were harvested in Virginia. Last year's harvest was a dismal 16,900 bushels, with only 3,709 bushels coming from public grounds.
How bad must the harvest get before VMRC will act to protect what is left?
H. P. McNEAL
Virginia Beach, Oct. 8, 1996 by CNB