CHARACTERISTICS OF OYSTER RACK STRUCTURES IN THE CHESAPEAKE BAY

NATIVE OYSTER PRODUCTION AND POPULATION HAVE FALLEN DRAMATICALLY IN THE CHESAPEAKE BAY. THE PUBLIC FISHERY HAS BEEN DECIMATED BY DISEASE WHILE THE PRIVATE CULTURISTS HAVE BEEN BURDENED BY A RIGID LEGAL AND SOCIAL FRAMEWORK. A METHOD OF PRODUCTION WHICH UTILIZES THE EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE PUBLIC FISHERY AND THE DISEASE MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES OF THE PRIVATE CULTURISTS NEEDS TO BE DEVELOPED. THIS PROJECT DEVELOPS THE PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF AN ON-BOTTOM OYSTER RACK THAT CNA BE WORKED BY EXISTING CHESAPEAKE BAY WORK BOATS. PARTICULAR ATTENTION IS BEING PAID TO THE BREAK FREE SUCTION FORCE AND ITS SUBSEQUENT EFFECT ON THE VESSEL'S STABILITY. THE BIOLOGICAL FEASIBILITY WILL BE COMPARED WITH A STANDARD COMMERCIAL FLOATING TRAY LONGLINE THAT WILL BE PLACED ADJACENT TO THE RACKS. FOLLOW ON WORK WILL TEST DIFFERENCES AMONG RACK DESIGNS AND LOCATIONS WITHIN THE BAY.