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Oyster population on the rise in Chesapeake Bay, new report shows

Advocates tell 13News Now they are thrilled to get the report but said more work still needs to be done.

CHESAPEAKE, Va. — The oyster population in the Chesapeake Bay is officially on the rise, but advocates warn there is still a lot of work left to do.

For decades oysters have been overhunted, over farmed, and have suffered the loss of habitats.

Through several conservation efforts like the 2014 Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement, federal-state efforts are on track to fully restore eleven Chesapeake Bay tributaries for oyster habitat by 2025.

"The importance of oysters to Hampton Roads and beyond cannot be stated enough," said Chris Moore, Executive Director of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.

In the newly filed report, researchers estimate a single acre of restored oyster reef is estimated to provide services worth up to $40,000 in annual economic benefit, not including harvest.

The report recommendations aim to achieve six vital outcomes for Maryland and Virginia, which are:

  • Improved water quality
  • Equitable economic opportunities for coastal communities
  • Increased resilience to sea-level rise and storm surge
  • Climate change mitigation
  • Transparency and accountability in fishery management
  • Modernized fishery management for sustainable harvests

Moore said they want to expand on the success they've seen and to continue conservation efforts to make sure the Commonwealth does not see another downward trend in population.

"Both Virginia and Maryland have very historic wild oyster fisheries, but we have new tools out there in order to modernize the science around those," said Moore. "We want to make sure the decision making around that is open and transparent."

These recommendations will be passed onto the General Assembly for lawmakers to keep in mind as they legislate the Commonwealth's future. 

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