The Virginia Marine Resources Commission, at its March 26 meeting in Newport News, unanimously approved a permit request by Susan Wade of Deltaville to install eight 70” x 136” nursery tanks (upwellers) for an oyster seed nursery, along with three 500 gpm pumps on a commercial pier and three submersible pumps beside the pier, at Island Seafood on Gwynn’s Island.

At the meeting, nearby neighbors in attendance—Joe Atherton, James Williams and David Judson—raised concerns about possible noise of 70 decibels or more that would be generated by the pumps located on the pier and by the discharge of water from the tanks directly overboard.

Commission members voted to modify the permit to include language the applicant had proffered to remedy the situation, requiring that the pumps be enclosed in wooden structures lined with foam board insulation and that the discharge pipe be lowered to mean high water to minimize splashing.

Oyster cage application

In a relate...