HUDGINS, Va. (AP) — A new study says there’s a possible link between oyster larvae deaths at a hatchery last year and rehabilitation work on the Gwynn’s Island Bridge in Mathews County.
The Daily Press (http://bit.ly/1NN9lFX ) reports that the study by the Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences found elevated levels of zinc and other metal contaminants in the water. The water flows in the direction of Oyster Seeds Holdings LLC on Gwynn’s Island.
But the study couldn’t determine what caused the oyster larvae to die.
Hatchery owner Mike Congrove says production dropped to 150 million oyster larvae last year. The hatchery produces more than 1 billion oyster larvae in a typical year.
Virginia Department of Transportation spokeswoman Kelly Hannon says the study shows the need for more coordination to protect the environment.
___
Information from: Daily Press, http://www.dailypress.com/
Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed
Spartan Echo 