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Debate on Drakes Bay: Wilderness vs. Commerce; Future of a 70-year-old oyster farm at the heart of controversy over use of public lands

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on November 4, 2009 at 1:18 pm

drakes bayFrom the Santa Rosa Press Democrat:

“It seems a perfect marriage of nature and commerce. As boats ferry oysters to the shore, pelicans swoop by and seals pop their heads out of the water.

But this spot on the Point Reyes National Seashore has become a flashpoint for a bitter debate over the limits of wilderness and commercial interest within America’s national parks.

The National Park Service has said it cannot renew the permit to farm oysters in a tidal estuary here, which lapses in 2012, because federal law requires it to return the area to wilderness by eliminating intrusive commercial activity.

Kevin Lunny, owner of Drakes Bay Oyster Co., says he feels persecuted by the Park Service and has sought legislation that could allow him to continue operating.

He argues the 70-year-old oyster farm, which predates the park, is part of the historical working landscape of the area — and every bit as in need of protection as the harbor seals and eelgrass that share the bay. …”

Read more from the Santa Rosa Press Democrat by clicking here.

November 4, 2009 · Filed Under Other Oceans & Beaches Stories

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