About The Islander. (St. Simons Island, Ga.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (March 18, 2019)
Page 6, March 18, 2019, The Islander Oyster farming Continued from Page 1 Jones where his angst lay. Jones answered quickly. “The leg islation does not allow for a 12 month industry which producers need for oyster mariculture to be profitable.” Committee chair Tyler Harper (R- 7) interrupted saying the bill did al low for a 12 month harvest period. Jones countered, “It’s suggests the possibility of a 12 month season.” The Chair and Rep. Petrea both talked over Jones saying the bill al lows for a 12 month season. “The leases are to be awarded by a lottery instead of a bidding process,” Jones said. “We don’t award our high way contracts by lottery. Why should be award the oyster leases by lottery?” “The bill does not allow for proper importation of (oyster) seed,” Jones said. “Floating cages and mechanical harvesting are not specifically al lowed,” he said. “There must be an active oyster mariculture advisory committee made up of people who have the opportunity to make their suggestions for growing this industry known to this commit tee as well as the house Natural Re sources committee.” “There is language in the HB501 that suggests that these things might be done,” Jones said. “But we are talk ing about a significant investment and the language is loose and non specific which makes it not worthwhile for producers to participate in.” The entire time Rep. Jones was talking, Rep. Petrea squirmed in his chair, made faces, and moved his head in a negative back and forth motion. Committee member Matt Brass (R- 28) asked why the two coastal repre sentatives weren’t both in favor of the bill. Petrea is from Savannah. Petrea said, “We have to be careful in terms of safety. The bill (HB 501) absolutely allows for a 12 month sea son. What Rep. Jones doesn’t like is that it gives the Department (Dept, of Natural Resources - DNR) discretion.” Petrea pointed out that Alabama just closed their oyster season because of heavy rain and that oysters can be dangerous and carry vibrio bacteria. Petrea discussed the lottery. “The Representative (Jones) wants people to choose where they want to do the farming. The waters belong to the public,” Petrea said. “The leased areas need to be determined by the Depart ment (DNR).” “The Department is anticipating, no matter how many times the Rep resentative (Jones) repeats a he, that the cages will absolutely be floated off the bottom in the sub-tidal regions of these creeks and estuaries.” “The DNR will determine where they are (the cages) and the season,” he said again. He continued, “We want to make sure that Georgians who have har vested wild oysters for genera tions have access to farm oysters in Georgia.” “The lottery individuals will be thoroughly vetted,” he said. “We want to make sure that everyone has access to do this farming on a state-owned resource if they want to do so.” Petrea also said the DNR had to certify the seed hatchery first accord ing to HB501 to make sure the seed was safe. “The Representative (Jones) says this bill will not allow the industry to grow. Well, let’s see what the free market does with this,” Petrea said. “If a year from now, no one is inter ested in farming oysters, I guess we’ll know, won’t we.” He also pointed out that the DNR and Dept, of Agriculture support HB 501. Jones pointed out that 60 represen tatives on the House side when the bill was voted on voted no. Petrea looked disgusted at Rep. Jones’ comments and said it was not Brunswick vs Savannah but the entire coastal delegation voted for HB501 except for Jones. Jones pointed out that the 600 pound gorilla in the room was that he was persona non grata because he signed the resolution requesting that House Speaker David Ralston resign. “I want to see oyster mariculture grow in Georgia,” Jones said. “But I want it to do so in a way that those people who are going to be produc ing this product can do so safely and make money as well.” “Food safety is of the utmost impor tance in this business,” Jones contin ued. He mentioned HB 565 which he dropped that is supported by the oys ter mariculture industry. He also said that Florida, both Carolinas and Vir- gina allow a 12 month oyster maricul ture industry. HB565 includes follow ing the National Sanitary Shellfish Standards which the DNR’s Coastal Resources Division (CRD) partici pates in. “The 12 month harvesting issue is addressed in that safety standard,” Jones said, “by time and temperature harvesting.” “HB565 has clear provisions for when the DNR commissioner can close the oyster season,” Jones continued. “Oyster mariculture is not depen dent on nature like the shrimping season,” Jones said. “Oysters are a farmed product that can be grown safely 12 months out of the year. Our neighboring states are doing it safely.” “The issue is the 600 pound gorilla in the room with the other politics that are going on,” Jones said. Jones said he wanted to see Georgia’s oyster mariculture busi ness grow but that it couldn’t under HB501 which includes burdensome regulations. All during the time Rep. Jones was speaking, Rep. Petrea would make disapproving facial expressions and hang his head downward, and occa sionally shake his head negatively. A gentleman from Macon with an interest in the industry said HB501 was too “gray” an area for him to ask an investor get a loan. “No one would loan me the money for a business on this legislation.” He continued saying there is too much uncertainty in the bill, nothing in writing. He also strongly suggested an advisory board of stakeholders. Jen Hilburn, the Altamaha River- keeper, was also allowed to speak to the committee. She stated, “I have talked over and over to fisherman and they, nor do I, believe this bill (HB501) is a bill they can invest in.” She also pointed out that oysters consumed in Glynn County are not from Georgia but from Louisiana or Texas. “The longer it takes to transport the oyster, the better chance it has of getting bacteria in it. The better chance you have of getting sick when you eat it. So it seems clear to me that Georgia grown oysters for 12 months out of the year would be a safer op tion,” she said. Les A. Schneider, senior principal at Wimberly Lawson Law Firm in At lanta spoke next. Schneider also sits on the board of directors of Inland Fresh Seafood Corp. of America, Inc. based in Georgia. Schneider suggested making an advisory board including the regula tors, distributors, farmers, harvest ers a part of the legislation. He sug gested making the effective date of the bill July 1, 2020, so the best busi ness plan could be worked out saying he wasn’t sure a lottery was the best business plan. HB501 passed out of the commit tee but two no votes were cast. Save Village from 0 The Land Trust and DNR Find us on FB at Save German Village Not all hearing loss requires a hearing aid. If you thinkyou are experiencing hearing loss, see Southeast Georgia's only licensed Doctors of Audiology. we went to a hearing doctor. 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