Oyster Recovery in the Chesapeake Bay
There was a time when nearly half of the oysters consumed in the world came from the Chesapeake Bay. The Algonquin Native Americans who lived in the area called the bay “chesepiook” which means “great shellfish bay.” As the largest estuary (where salt water meets fresh water) in the United States, the bay offers a unique environment for oysters, creating some of the most unique flavors available and highly coveted by oyster lovers. The eastern oyster (Crassotrea virginica) was once so plentiful in the bay that oyster mounds were visible jutting out of the water.
Sunrise on the Chesapeake Bay.
Now, the oyster population, along with the populations of many other shellfish in the bay, is threatened by overfishing and pollution from runoff that creates large dead zones with no oxygen in the water.
Fortunately, there are a number of efforts being made to restore the bay’s oyster population. Chief among them is the Oyster Recovery Partnership. This non-profit organization is based in Annapolis and is dedicated to “shellfish restoration, aquaculture and wild fishery activities to protect our environment, support our economy, and preserve our cultural heritage.”
Formed nearly 20 years, ago, the partnership has planted more than 5 billion oysters on 1,600 acres of oyster reefs throughout the bay. The group has also recycled 1,400 tons of shells to create habitats for new oysters.
Oyster Reefs
There are actually two different kinds of oyster reefs in the Chesapeake Bay: sanctuaries and harvest bars.
Sanctuaries are “reefs that are protected from harvesting and public shellfish fishery areas.” Harvest bars are “fished from October to March.” The Oyster Recovery Partnership builds both kinds of reefs, but focuses the majority of its efforts on “rehabilitating or rebuilding oyster reeds in sanctuaries.”
Oysters Promote a Healthy Bay
Oysters are actually one of the most important species in the bay, because they actively work to help clean it. Oysters suck in seawater to extract nutrients, but in the process they also filter out silt, sediment, and nitrates from the water. This makes the water cleaner and promotes the health of other fish that live in the bay. This is why rebuilding the bay’s population of oysters is so critical to the future of the bay.
Catonsville Gourmet supports the Oyster Recovery Partnership and recognizes the value of restoring the oyster population in the Chesapeake Bay, efforts to improve the health of Maryland’s most valuable and treasured natural resource. With continued efforts like these, we will all be able to enjoy the Chesapeake Bay and its many fruits for many years to come. To learn more, visit the Oyster Recovery Partnership’s website.
Source
http://www.foodrepublic.com/2014/08/06/heres-strong-argument-maryland-americas-top-oyster