Delaware opposes Asian oysters in Chesapeake

DOVER, DE – (AP) Delaware natural resources officials say they oppose introducing Asian oysters into the Chesapeake Bay.

The head of the state's Coastal Management Program says the state is joining New Jersey and New York in adamantly opposing the introduction because it could hurt native oysters and threaten Delaware's extensive restoration efforts in the Delaware Bay.

The introduction of sterile Asian oysters is among a number of options being considered to restore the Chesapeake Bay's oyster population.

But Delaware Coastal Programs Administrator Sarah Cooksey said in a Dec. 12 letter to the Army Corps of Engineer that batches of sterile oysters may contain fertile oysters. If that creates a breeding population that could outcompete the native oyster, Cooksey argues that even the most stringent bio-security measures may not be able to protect Delaware waters.