Oysters in Chesapeake Bay

Introduction

Oysters, for nearly a century, have been effected from two sides which are, people and nature. Our appetite for oysters has spurred overharvesting; at the same time, pollution has made oysters more vulnerable to disease, and sediment has smothered oyster beds. Conservationists, lawmakers and natural resource experts have been scratching their heads for nearly as long, trying to figure out how to save Crassostrea virginica populations. Now, solutions that give us hope are coming from us, and nature.

Discussion

Scientists say that the Chesapeake Bay's oyster population has dramatically declined to 5 percent of what it was when European settlers first inhabited the area. Unsustainable fishing practices,diseases like MSX and Dermo, loss of habitat, and pollution have all led to a plummeting population (Wennersten, pp. 64). However, Chesapeake Bay "oyster gardeners" are working against the grain to rebuild this crucial species.Oyster gardeners, motivated by a love of oysters and the Chesapeake Bay, are working to revive a species that has been on a fast decline for years, growing ever more dramatic in recent decades.

Oyster gardeners set up oyster cages made from mesh, which hang from docks. They allow oysters to grow until they are big enough to be transported to a sanctuary. Each year gardeners start a new batch in the hopes of growing the population and providing a fresh, healthy crop each year.

Oysters are incredibly important to our ecosystem because they filter the water, removing suspended sediment as well as contaminants and pesticides. They serve to keep water clear while providing a food source for anemones, sea nettles, and filter feeders (Lippson, pp. 81). Oysters are an also a culturally and economically significant part of the Chesapeake Bay.

Settlers commented on having to navigate the massive oysters reefs when they first settled in the area. The Chesapeake Bay was amongst the largest oyster populations in ...