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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, Drought conditions, natural disasters, and |
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overharvesting have had a negative impact on the state's oyster |
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population, but the certificate of location program administered by |
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the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department provides a valuable |
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mitigating effect; and |
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WHEREAS, Designation of an oyster bed as private is achieved |
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through a certificate of location, sometimes referred to as a |
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private oyster lease; the holder of the certificate has the ability |
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to protect his or her oysters from poaching during the time period |
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covered by the certificate; and |
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WHEREAS, Decades ago, Texas Parks and Wildlife was granted |
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exclusive authority to designate an oyster bed as private in order |
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to discourage oyster harvesters from fishing in areas of Galveston |
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Bay closed by the state health department; as filter feeders, |
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however, oysters have the ability to purge themselves of |
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contaminants if they are relocated to safe waters; a certificate of |
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location gives the holder the right to move oysters from restricted |
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or polluted waters to a specific location to allow for the |
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depuration of the oysters to meet the consumption standards set by |
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the Texas Department of State Health Services; and |
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WHEREAS, Coastal fishery experts have found that the |
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certificate of location program is beneficial to both the |
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$3 billion oyster industry and to the public; private lease owners |
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have the assurance that they will reap the benefits earned by the |
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careful cultivation of their oyster beds, while consumers have |
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greater confidence that their oysters are safe to eat; moreover, by |
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naturally removing contaminants from their environment, oysters |
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enhance recreation, tourism, and businesses that rely on clear gulf |
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water; and |
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WHEREAS, At present, the certificate of location program |
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encompasses only a few leases within just one bay, and current |
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leases are due to expire in 2017; by extending and expanding the |
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program, Texas Parks and Wildlife can help revitalize a struggling |
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resource and contribute immeasurably to the future health of an |
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industry; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 84th Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby urge the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to extend and |
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expand its certificate of location program for oyster harvesting; |
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and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That the Texas secretary of state forward an |
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official copy of this resolution to the Texas Parks and Wildlife |
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Commission. |