Galveston Bay littered with Ike debris

HOUSTON, Dec. 1 (UPI) -- Oyster fishermen operating at Galveston Bay in Texas are struggling due to an inordinate amount of debris left by Hurricane Ike, experts say.

The Houston Chronicle said Monday at least 60 percent of this year's oyster crop from the bay is estimated to have been killed by the debris, leaving those in the oyster industry facing an uncertain future.

"When oysters stay buried so long, they will die. Our oyster production is down 70 to 80 percent from what we used to get," said Lisa Halili, who owns an oyster house in San Leon, Texas. "We need to get the debris and silt off these reefs."

The significant loss in the region's oyster crop compounds industry members' struggles since Ike damaged many members' boats, docks and other property as well.

Lance Robinson, the regional director for the Texas Parks and Wildlife department, told the Chronicle history indicates the damaged Galveston Bay reefs need immediate assistance.

"We know some other reefs that were silted over 30 years ago, and they have still not come back in all this time. So it's unlikely these newly damaged reefs will come back without intervention," he said.