Non-Native Oyster Timeline

Aug 2009	ACOE issues Record of Decision on Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS); decision disallows introduction of non-native oyster C. ariakensis and instead encourages enhanced restoration and aquaculture using native oyster C. virginica
Apr 2009	PEIS Executive Committee recommends native-only restoration strategy as the preferred alternative in the final PEIS
Mar 2009	Virginia Seafood Council (VSC) withdraws proposal for 2009 non-native oyster trial
Dec 2008	VIMS offers summary recommendations on PEIS
Dec 2008	60-day comment period on draft PEIS ends on December 15
Oct 2008	PEIS team releases draft statement, seeks public comment
Aug 2007	NOAA releases summary of products from non-native research
Jun 2007	PEIS Executive Committee issues a progress report
Sep 2006	NOAA updates status of PEIS research projects
Nov 2004	MD names independent advisory panel to review oyster research
Jan 2004	US Army Corps of Engineers (ACE) requests public comment on Environmental Impact Statement
Jan 2004	ACE issues a Federal Register notice of intent to prepare a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) for a proposed introduction of C. ariakensis into Chesapeake Bay
Oct 2003	VIMS posts web site for 2003-05 Virginia Seafood Council (VSC) trial
Sep 2003	VIMS deploys ariakensis to Virginia Seafood Council (VSC) growers
Aug 2003	National Academy of Science issues report on non-native oysters
Feb 2003	VMRC approves VSC proposal to expand experiments with C. ariakensis
Jan 2003	VIMS submits "Statement of expectations for research and development on non-native oysters" to VMRC
Dec 2002	Virginia Seafood Council submits proposal to VMRC for aquaculture trial
Mar 2002	National Academy agrees to review C. ariakensis issue
Jan 2002	VIMS articulates protocols for non-native oyster research
Dec 2001	Agencies issue statements on use of C. ariakensis for aquaculture in Chesapeake Bay VIMS \| CBF \| CBP \| UMCES \|
Oct 2001	VIMS hosts C. ariakensis symposium
2000	Virginia Seafood Council (VSC) conducts in-water tests of C. ariakensis Virginia Marine Resource Commission (VMRC) approves VSC request with VIMS monitoring Virginia Seafood Council (VSC) requests C. ariakensis introduction VIMS research shows high commercial potential for C. ariakensis CBP ad-hoc panel approves VIMS marketability proposal
1999	Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC) approves VIMS marketability proposal VIMS proposes marketability study for C. ariakensis VIMS publishes research showing low commercial potential for C. gigas
1998	Chesapeake Bay Program (CBP) ad-hoc panel approves VIMS proposal VIMS proposes in-field testing of C. ariakensis VIMS work on C. gigas ends, fails marketability test
1997-98	Crassostrea rivularis renamed Crassostrea ariakensis
1997	VIMS establishes ABC (Aquaculture Genetics and Breeding Technology Center) CBP's Living Resources Sub-Committee (LRSC) accepts ad-hoc panel's recommendations
1996	VIMS submits strategic plan for non-native oyster research to Virginia legislature CBP forms ad-hoc panel to guide research on C. gigas and C. rivularis
1995	VA legislature mandates VIMS to develop a strategic plan for shellfish research pdf \| legislative summary
1993	Chesapeake Bay oyster harvest reaches historic low Chesapeake Bay Program (CBP) adopts policy on non-native oysters (Crassostrea gigas and C. rivularis) VIMS conducts first field tests of disease tolerance in C. gigas
1991	Aquaculture industry requests introduction of non-native oysters
1959	Oyster disease MSX found in Chesapeake Bay
1949	Oyster disease Dermo found in Chesapeake Bay