Monday, March 20, 2006

NC DOT Building New Oyster Sanctuary

The North Carolina Department of Transportation has begun construction of a new five acre oyster sanctuary just north of the current Crab Hole Sanctuary (35° 43.595' N 75° 40.628' W) in the northern Pamlico Sound. While the NC DMF will assume responsibilities for the sanctuary once it is complete, the DOT is hauling over 8,000 tons of marine grade limestone to create the reef with one of its ferries. The project is expected to take five weeks to complete and will be a welcome addition to the current oyster sanctuaries. The area chosen for the sanctuary was once one of the most fertile oyster habitats on the entire North Carolina coast but was depleted due to over-harvesting. Once complete the new sanctuary will serve as a boost to the Pamlico Sound oyster population and to the local water quality as each oyster filters about 50 gallons of water a day. Be sure to check out the GPS coordinates for each sanctuary at the bottom of the NC DMF's list of current oyster sanctuaries, areas around oyster habitat are almost always good spots to find redfish, trout, and other inshore fish. More on the new oyster sanctuary is available from the Outer Banks Sentinel. Further information about the NC DMF's Oyster Sanctuary Program is available from their website.

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