The director of the UC Cooperative Extension Sea Grant Extension Program, Paul Olin, was cited in a story published today by the Marin Independent Journal. His expertise was sought about a decision made by the Marin County Board of Supervisors to ask Sen. Dianne Feinstein to help one of the county's largest oyster farms stay in business.
National Park officials say the oyster beds threaten an important habitat for harbor seals and shorebirds and damage the growth of native eelgrass.
According to the article, written by Rob Rogers, Olin downplayed the effects of the oyster company on native eelgrass.
"Every farm has impacts, but it also has benefits," Olin said. "In this case, those benefits include food and maintaining the water quality of the estuary. There are approximately 700 acres in the estuary, and the farm only takes up 12 acres."