History of the Proposed Introduction
In 1996, under direction from the Virginia House of Delegates 
, the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) began to study
non-native oysters for potential introduction into the Chesapeake Bay. Initial research efforts focused on two species from Asia:
the Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas) 
and the Suminoe oyster (C. ariakensis). Field studies were conducted using reproductively
sterile (triploid) C. ariakensis to prevent an unintentional introduction of the species to the Bay. By 2000 VIMS determined that
C. ariakensis was better suited to Bay conditions and had greater marketability than C. gigas. C. ariakensis also demonstrated greater disease
tolerance than the native oyster, rapid growth, and high consumer ratings.
Since 2001, the Virginia Seafood Council (VSC), an industry group, has conducted a series of aquaculture trials testing triploid C. ariakensis at various locations in Virginia. These projects involve private oyster growers who raise the oysters in different types
of containment devices to ensure none of the Asian oysters escape.
As interest in introducing the Asian oyster grew, federal resource agencies, environmental groups, and scientists became concerned about the
possible risks associated with a non-native introduction. These groups called for caution on any potential introduction, citing
the importance of the Chesapeake Bay as a national treasure,
potential impacts to neighboring coastal states with stable native oyster industries, and numerous examples of unintended and
sometimes disastrous consequences of past non-native species introductions.
In 2002, the National Research Council (NRC) was commissioned to study the issue with sponsorship from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), several Sea Grant College programs,
and the states of Maryland and Virginia.
The NRC report was released in June 2003. Later that year, the Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee of the Chesapeake
Bay Program(STAC)conducted a workshop to develop a detailed research plan based on the NRC study. Results of the STAC workshop agreed with the NRC's conclusion
that a minimum of five to seven years of biological research would be necessary to fully evaluate the potential risks and benefits of
introducing C. ariakensis into the Bay.
Also in 2003, Virginia and Maryland officially proposed the introduction of reproductive C. ariakensis with the goal of establishing
self-sustaining populations in the Bay and coastal waters. In response to this proposal, the U.S. Congress directed the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,
in cooperation with NOAA, EPA, and FWS, to prepare a programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to evaluate
potential risks and benefits of introducing this non-native species and alternative approaches to increasing oyster populations. A series of
alternatives to the introduction were developed ranging from no action to introducing C. ariakensis and discontinuing native oyster restoration.
The EIS process is currently in the data-gathering and risk-assessment phase and numerous scientific studies with C. ariakensis are currently under way.
From 2004-2006, NOAA conducted a Non-native Oyster Research Program funded at $2 million each year to address the research priorities identified by the NRC and STAC reports.
Maryland also invested over $1 million in research projects in 2004. A draft EIS is scheduled for release in May 2008.