A federal study has found that seeding the Chesapeake Bay with disease-resistant Asian oysters could supplement the bay's dwindling native population, but the move could hurt native oysters and spread to threaten other ecosystems along the East Coast.

The draft environmental impact statement by the Army Corps of Engineers, a copy of which was obtained by the (Baltimore) Sun makes no recommendations.

The study was aimed at settling the debate over introducing nonnative oysters in the bay, where the native population has been severely damaged by parasitic diseases and overharvesting.

Maryland, Virginia and the Army Corps hope to agree next year on whether to introduce Asian oysters, continue native oysters restoration efforts, or both.