Currents Summer 2024 (1) - Flipbook - Page 55
There’s no end to the magical wonders of the United States’ Chesapeake Bay. Filled with rare
birds and flowers, mysterious islands and a rich seafood cuisine, this 200-mile long Mid-Atlantic
waterway never fails to dazzle. But there’s one aspect in particular here that truly encompasses
the culture - oysters.
Celebrated at festivals, backyard roasts and restaurants, oysters are a staple throughout the
Chesapeake Bay, especially in Maryland and Virginia. But while treasured, the bivalve has suffered
immensely over the past few decades thanks to pollution and excessive overharvesting. The
declining population led to serious concerns about its future; worries that ultimately led to a unique
approach designed to prompt a great revival.
Because oyster shell recycling has taken off throughout the Chesapeake Bay area. This circle-of-life
method aims to encourage an oyster resurgence in the bay and some of its tributaries by collecting
and reusing discarded shells to grow new spat which are later placed back into the waterway to
grow.
One such program is run by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF). Headquartered in Annapolis,
Maryland, the non-profit organization offers shell recycling programs throughout Maryland and
Virginia. Its Maryland program took off in 2008 after a Fredericksburg area restaurant brought oyster
shells to their office.
