"Virginia oyster production is declining primarily because of reduction in private harvests. The state has a goal of increasing private oyster production. If private production is to be increased, policies must be instituted to deal with the constraints facing private production. As a result, the state requires a better understanding of the factors that have contributed to the decline of private planting. The oyster disease MSX has received much of the blame for reduced profitability of private planting. However, economic factors, particularly the rising real cost of oyster seed relative to market prices, are also an important reason for declining profits. The objectives of this study were to evaluate economic and biological factors affecting private planting in order to identify the reasons for reduced private harvests. The results were used as a basis for making policy recommendations for restoring private production. The analysis of private planting was carried out using personal interviews with private planters and oyster biologists, and mail interviews with leaseholders, and by developing a bioeconomic simulation model for analyzing private oyster production"--National Sea Grant Library publication website.

Sea Grant Publications

Funding: Virginia Sea Grant Program; project number: NA86AA-D-SG042;