A century of over harvesting, eutrophication, pollution, and over sedimentation all have led to the destruction of oyster habitat in the Chesapeake Bay. This has resulted in a decline in the oyster population to 1% of its historic size (Maryland Sea Grant, 2013). |
Maryland commercial oyster harvest, 1939-2011. Figure from Maryland Department of Natural Resource’s 2011 FMP Report.
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Figure taken from NOAA. (https://chesapeakebay.noaa.gov/oysters/oyster-reefs)
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Why does this matter?Oysters are ecosystem engineers. They are natural water filters and provide habitat for fish and other benthic organisms in the Bay. Increasing the population of oysters improves water quality in the Bay and supports a dynamic and successful ecosystem.
Reef growth is limited by pre-existing reefsOyster survival depends highly on available substrate for settlement of oyster spat. Fewer oysters means that spat cannot attach to oyster shells as part of their growth cycle.
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What are we doing?
Team oysters is looking at alternative ways to provide artificial substrate for oysters settlement and growth through electrolysis mineral accretion.