Can Oysters Save the Bay?
The iconic Eastern Oyster, an incredibly important and necessary part of the ecosystem of the Chesapeake Bay, once plentiful in numbers, has dwindled to a drastically low population.
The fully matured oyster can filter 50 gallons of water per day. It eats by pumping significant quantities of water through its gills, trapping algae, pollutants and other suspended residues.
There were once enough oysters in the Chesapeake Bay to filter it in its entirety within 3 or 4 days. Today it takes roughly a year for the same task.
WHY?
Over harvesting, pollution, disease and habitat loss are the primary reasons for the oyster's severe decline.
HARVESTING
In the early to mid 1800's harvesting oysters was done with hand tools. But then commercial and large scale harvesting was introduced. The dredge came into play and not only harvested an abundance of oysters in a short amount of time, but also disturbed the environment and destroyed the entire oyster reef.
Oyster larvae attach to adult oysters and grow on their shells. This continual upward growth of oyster populations creates an entire reef, lending protection and habitat to other shell fish and to small fish.
The dredge, which drags on the ground of the bay, devastates the entire reef, reducing it to a mere few, left scattered about the sea floor.
Also, the brutal disturbance of the sea floor stirs up excesses of sediment, damaging the gills of oysters and other fish.
WHAT CAN BE DONE?
Scientists have been making strides increasing the oyster population by breeding disease resistant oysters, but also by restoring oyster reef populations.
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
Oyster gardening is one way the lay person can help. In a cage, sanitized oyster shells are planted with baby oysters. The little larvae swim and attach to the shell. They grow, protected in this cage in the bay waters. Anyone with access to the bay can partake in a project like this. Once they are a year, the cages are returned to the program leader, who then introduces or "plants" them on a larger, natural, protected oyster reef.
If you eat oysters, you can save and donate your shells to a program like this.
Reducing pollution is another way the lay person can help. Fertilizing lawns creates runoff, eventually making its way to the bay, polluting and contributing to disease in oysters and other fish and shell fish.
Education is always helpful. Once we know, we try to do better. Learn and teach, without harsh judgement, but simply to do better. We all need this earth to survive and thrive.