THE ISSUE: Saving oysters

OUR OPINION: Focus on vital saltwater player is important

Oysters are a seafood that elicit all sorts of reaction. Some folks love them prepared just about any way, from raw to fried. Others won’t eat them at all, even reminding those who do exactly what oysters are.

Indeed, oysters are important filters for the saltwater environment. As they grow and prosper on banks all along our state’s waters and salt marshes, they perform that key cleaning function. As much as that does not make them unfit for human consumption, it does make their prosperity vital for the ecosystem. And because of their popularity as a food source, they are a vital commercial seafood link.

Give credit to the S.C. Department of Natural Resources, realizing that the health of oysters is a signal of the health of the entire saltwater system. With human pressure on the state’s waters increasing, the agency has been proactive in ensuring that oysters would remain prevalent and healthy. They set about a direct approach, supplemented by building public awareness through education.

Formed was the South Carolina Oyster Restoration and Enhancement team. It involves citizens of all ages in shell recycling, reef construction, monitoring and educational programs.

The effort has served as a model, being recognized as such with a national award five years ago.

Oyster-restoration efforts got a boost this week with South Carolina receiving $152,000 in federal dollars to get residents involved in restoring oyster beds along the coast. The grant is part of more than $2.7 million the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is providing for fish habitat projects in 26 states.

The $86,000 from the federal government will be used with more than $66,000 from the Southeast Aquatic Resources Partnership for oyster habitat restoration.

With oyster habitat in South Carolina continuing its decline, the assistance is welcome. SCDNR continues to have a sharp eye on its mission of protecting the S.C. outdoors by getting help from an involved and concerned citizenry, but more must be done.

Efforts on the water must mirror what so many are doing inland to preserve land and natural resources. They are vital if our state is to preserve its natural heritage amid a growing coastal population and the development accompanying it, even in difficult economic times.

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