Va council pulls request for Asian oysters in Bay

NEWPORT NEWS, VA – (AP) The Virginia Seafood Council is withdrawing its application to grow to grow 1.1 million Asian oysters to the Chesapeake Bay.

The trade group's executive director, Frances Porter, told the Virginia Marine Resources Commission it was pulling its request on Tuesday.

Porter said the move came after it became apparent that there were too many hurdles involved in order to do the controlled experiment, including federal environmental requirements.

Groups including the Chesapeake Bay Foundation have opposed the plan, saying there are unforeseen consequences of introducing the alien species.

The bay's native oysters have declined dramatically because of poor water quality, disease and decades of heavy harvesting.