Water - Quality Watchdogs? - A Political, Environmental, and Socioeconomic Analysis of Oyster Farming in Alabama

Abstract

Once a common feature in Mobile Bay, oyster reefs and oyster harvest have seen a sharp decline. Overharvest, hurricanes, drought, dredging, and pollution have brought oyster populations in Mobile Bay and other oyster fisheries around the US to near collapse. Alabama responded to a poor 2008 harvest by creating stricter harvest policies and closed seasons, along with dive checks on reefs. The rules were meant to relieve the public reefs, but with degrading water quality and slumping species health oyster reefs were moved closer to the mouth of Mobile Bay in 2010. Evaluation of different strategic methods from six other states is done to compare superior and poor strategies for increasing environmental and social benefit. Use of private property rights, aquaculture, and simplifying permit processes were identified. Aquaculture in particular is examined. Oyster farming is not common in the Gulf of Mexico. Cost-benefit analysis of potential oyster aquaculture is done. No clear-cut permit exists for establishing an oyster farm in Alabama. Suggestions are put forth to aid politicians and industry in potential aquaculture permits.

Keywords: oyster, aquaculture, Gulf Coast, private property, coastal policy