Oyster Conservation Act

Oyster Conservation Act

This bill directs the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to provide grants to certain entities, including the academic community and seafood industry, to conduct research on the conservation, restoration, or management of oysters in estuarine ecosystems.

Grant awards may not exceed 85% of the research project's total cost unless NOAA waives such requirement. Additionally, NOAA must ensure that grant funding is apportioned according to the historic baseline (i.e., the estimated population of oysters in an estuary in 1850) oyster population of each estuary of the United States.

Bill 117 HR 3864, also known as the Oyster Conservation Act, is a piece of legislation introduced in the US Congress with the goal of promoting the conservation and sustainable management of oyster populations in the United States. The bill aims to address the decline in oyster populations due to overfishing, habitat destruction, pollution, and other factors.

The Oyster Conservation Act includes provisions to establish oyster sanctuaries and protected areas where oyster populations can thrive without the threat of overfishing. It also calls for the development of oyster restoration and enhancement projects to help rebuild oyster populations in areas where they have been depleted.

Additionally, the bill includes measures to improve water quality in oyster habitats by addressing pollution sources and implementing best management practices to reduce contamination. It also seeks to increase research and monitoring efforts to better understand oyster populations and their habitats, as well as to support sustainable oyster harvesting practices. Overall, the Oyster Conservation Act aims to protect and restore oyster populations in the United States, recognizing the important ecological and economic role that oysters play in marine ecosystems and coastal communities. By promoting conservation and sustainable management practices, the bill seeks to ensure the long-term viability of oyster populations for future generations.