Press Release

Data-driven tool to help guide Chesapeake Bay restoration, conservation efforts

The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation this month released a new map that identifies potential habitats of native freshwater mussels, the most imperiled group of animals.

Virginians can check the map to see which species of mussels might be in their local river or stream. Natural resource agencies and organizations can use it to prioritize restoration work where it could help save these at-risk mollusks.

Efforts to protect and restore habitats for freshwater mussels, which serve a critical function in filtering water, have been gaining momentum in the Chesapeake Bay watershed and across Virginia.  

Biodiversity data specialists at the Virginia Natural Heritage Program at DCR created a mussel richness map of hotspots where planting native trees and plants along streams and implementing agricultural best management practices could have the biggest benefit for clean water and mussel habitat. Existing forests that are important for the quality of water associated with significant mussel diversity may be targeted for conservation. 

The map is part of a project funded by a grant to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.

Nineteen mussel species occur in the Chesapeake Bay watershed of Virginia. The map shows where and how many mussel species habitats may be found in various rivers and streams. To view the map, visit the Natural Heritage Data Explorer and select the “Potential Freshwater Mussel Richness” layer. 

“Sixty-six percent of mussel species are at risk due to habitat alteration, pollution, and invasive species,” said Joe Weber, chief of biodiversity information and conservation tools for the Virginia Natural Heritage Program. “Freshwater mussels perform vital ecosystem services and functions, including helping to purify water for humans and wildlife, and they are key components of diverse and resilient freshwater systems.” 

“Freshwater mussels represent a rich natural resource that there’s still so much for us to learn about,” said Dr. Joe Wood, CBF’s Virginia senior scientist. “This effort represents a significant step toward helping us understand, protect and restore freshwater mussel populations and foster investment in these imperiled species. It provides a pragmatic tool to prioritize restoration in areas that would have the biggest impact for ensuring these vital species don’t decline or go extinct. This will improve the effectiveness of future restoration efforts to protect Virginia’s streams and rivers and ensure these valuable creatures inhabit our waterways for generations to come.”

The map and comprehensive Chesapeake Bay-wide mussel restoration planning initiative for the Virginia Chesapeake Bay Watershed are supported by a grant to CBF from the Chesapeake Watershed Investments in Landscape Defense program, or Chesapeake WILD, which is administered by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. 

Amazon and the Port of Virginia Each Donate $100,000 to CBF for Climate Resiliency Project

Over 100 volunteers joined the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) and the City of Hampton to complete a living shoreline at Bluebird Gap Farm that will enhance native habitats and stabilize shorelines. 

Amazon and the Port of Virginia volunteers planted 500 plugs of black needlerush, 500 plugs of smooth cordgrass, and 50 bushy seaside oxide, marking the completion of a 158-foot living shoreline at Bluebird Gap Farm earlier this month. That work followed the installation of 16 coconut fiber coir logs and the placement of 100 tons of sand by CBF and volunteers in the preceding weeks.

Living shorelines are a sustainable and environmentally friendly approach to protecting waterfront property from erosion. By utilizing native wetland plants, grasses, shrubs, and trees, along with natural materials like the coconut fiber rolls, living shorelines create a natural barrier that dissipates wave energy and promotes shoreline stability.

“We are incredibly grateful for the invaluable work of the many volunteers, including Amazon and the Port of Virginia volunteers,” said Kati Grigsby, Restoration Coordinator at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. “Their hard work and dedication in addition to our partnership with the city of Hampton were instrumental in making this project a success. This living shoreline will not only provide critical habitat for fish and wildlife but will also help to improve water quality and protect Hampton’s shoreline from the threats of climate change.”

The three-week project involved bending and heavy lifting, but the volunteers rose to the challenge, working tirelessly to install the coir logs, spread the sand, and plant the plugs. Their efforts have resulted in a significant enhancement to the Bluebird Gap Farm property and helped improve the overall health of the Chesapeake Bay. 

“We’re proud to join with the Port of Virginia to support the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s important work to help protect the Bay for future generations. Rebuilding living shorelines and restoring the oyster population in the Bay can help improve water quality, prevent erosion, and provide habitat for the diverse fish and wildlife that call the Bay home,” said Carl Berger, director of export operations, global logistics at Amazon.

Amazon and the Port of Virginia have each committed $100,000 to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation project, supporting the Bluebird Gap Farm Living Shoreline project entirely and additional Virginia shoreline restoration initiatives in the coming months including oyster restoration efforts. 

“The Port of Virginia is committed to sustainability, and we are pleased to partner with like-minded organizations such as Amazon and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation in supporting initiatives like this that help protect our natural resources,” said Stephen A. Edwards, CEO and executive director of the Virginia Port Authority. “We are looking forward to working together on future projects that improve our environment and communities.”

Conejohela Flats, Little Fishing Creek areas up next for CBF watershed management plans

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF), local residents, and other conservation organizations will be working together to create watershed management plans that will improve water quality in Lancaster and Centre counties.

After creating two watershed management plans, each primarily in Lancaster and Centre counties, CBF is turning its attention to local streams in the Conejohela Flats and Little Fishing Creek areas, which do not meet water quality standards.

The plans are designed to restore and protect local streams for the health, well-being, and quality of life of watershed residents. Water quality experts and local residents work together to develop the plan to implement strategies like planting riparian buffers, stream restoration, streambank fencing, cover crops, no-till agriculture and more.

The final plans are consistent with Countywide Action Plans that contribute to local commitments toward achieving goals of Pennsylvania’s final Phase 3 Chesapeake Bay Watershed Implementation Plan.

The Conejohela Flats plan will focus on 17.6 square miles in Lancaster County, containing 10 streams and totaling 25.5 miles in length, 89 percent of which are impaired due to agricultural or stormwater runoff. All 10 tributaries feed directly into the Susquehanna River. With a population of about 20,000 people, the watershed includes the Boroughs of Columbia and Mountville, and Manor and West Hempfield townships.

Conejohela is a Native American word that means “kettle on a long, upright pole.” It refers to a Native American settlement from the early 1700s and a group of islands and mud flats in the Susquehanna River.

Columbia is an Environmental Justice community and the urban core of the watershed. The town’s rich history includes falling just one vote shy of being chosen as the nation’s capital and halting the Confederate Army’s northern advance ahead of the Battle of Gettysburg.

“The neat thing about this plan, is that its focus is a collection of small, adjacent streams, rather than a single, large one and its tributaries,” said Brian Gish, CBF Pennsylvania Senior Watershed Planner. “It’s a diverse mix of urban, suburban, rural, and natural spaces, all connected by the Susquehanna. It’s novel and I’m excited about it.”

“The locally driven work in these tributaries is important for clean and clear water in Lancaster,” said Allyson Gibson, Director of Strategic Partnerships and Programs for Lancaster Clean Water Partners. 

“Plans for water quality improvement projects that our riverland communities will do give us specifics that add momentum to a countywide initiative. Whether the creek water runs into a stream or into the mighty Susquehanna, it all matters. We’re collaboratively improving all of it, together.” 

The Little Fishing Creek Watershed, in Centre County and a small part of Clinton County, comprises 25 tributaries. Over 8 of its 58 miles of streams are impaired due to sedimentation. It is 42 square miles with roughly 3,450 residents.

“Little Fishing Creek stood out for a watershed management plan,” CBF Pennsylvania Senior Watershed Planner Caitlin Glagola said. “Trout Unlimited and others have been doing work on Fishing Creek, so it is a way connect with some efforts happening downstream.”

“Key goals of ours include improving local water quality and promoting watershed stewardship, which is why we are looking forward to partnering with CBF on the Little Fishing Creek watershed plan,” said Ivie Foster of the Centre County Conservation District.

Planning processes for the Conejohela Flats and Little Fishing Creek projects are in the preliminary, information-gathering stages. “When these plans are being developed, we want to let local people know what is going on and make those connections early on,” Glagola said.

“Partnerships are the biggest assets,” Glagola said. “If you have a plan in place, it is only effective if we and partners make sure that what we’ve collectively worked toward and put into it writing gets set into action.”

Previous plans coordinated by Gish and Glagola in Lancaster and Centre counties are being put into action. They are being referenced to leverage funding and put into practice by conservation districts and others to inform where clean water efforts should be made in their respective areas.

Gish coordinated management plans for the Pequea Creek (Lancaster and Chester counties) and Upper Conestoga River (Lancaster, Berks and Chester counties) watersheds.

Glagola has coordinated management plans for the Halfmoon Creek (Centre and Huntingdon counties) and Marsh Creek (Centre County) watersheds.

The Pequea and Halfmoon plans were approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and are now eligible for federal funding.

The Upper Conestoga River and Marsh Creek plans have been submitted to the state DEP for review.

When CBF developed the previous watershed management plans, partners included county conservation districts, local watershed and conservation organizations, academic institutions, state and local government agencies, local businesses, planning agencies, landowners, farmers, and residents.

“In Marsh Creek, we really upped the ante on communications and community engagement,” Glagola said. “These are voluntary, not regulatory plans. It’s about providing resources and hearing from landowners about what they want and building that into the plan.”

“We try to build on previous plans, add new levels of analysis, and make each plan better than the previous one,” Gish said. “In Conejohela, I’m taking a deeper dive into land use and development, making the growth dynamics of western Lancaster County a key part of a future-focused approach.”

To help faith leaders navigate critical issues in the face of climate change, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF), Church in the Public Square, Second Presbyterian Church of Richmond, Union Presbyterian Seminary, and Virginia Interfaith Power and Light are co-hosting a two-day Faith Forum beginning Oct. 16. The forum will explore the vital role of spiritual leadership in caring for creation.  

In the wake of the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene just after the extreme heat and downpours this summer, Virginia communities are facing unprecedented challenges. As faith leaders seek to support their communities in the aftermath of these disasters, they are also called to address the underlying causes of climate change and work towards building more resilient futures. 

“As threats from climate change become increasingly evident, it is imperative that faith leaders come together to learn how they can support their communities in building resilience. This forum offers a valuable opportunity for spiritual leaders to connect, share experiences, and gain the knowledge and tools needed to address the challenges of climate change,” said Ann Jurczyk, CBF’s Virginia Manager of Urban Restoration.  

“The faith community plays a vital role in tackling climate change challenges. By leveraging their moral authority and convening power, faith leaders can inspire and mobilize their congregations to take action. This forum will provide a platform for faith leaders to learn about practical steps they can take to create a more sustainable and just future,” said Faith Harris, Executive Director of Virginia Interfaith Power and Light. 

The Faith Forum will take place on October 16 at Second Presbyterian Church of Richmond and October 17 at Union Presbyterian Seminary in Richmond, Virginia. 

Renowned keynote speakers Dr. Norman Wirzba and Dr. Melanie Harris will share their expertise on how spiritual leaders can inspire their congregations to embrace environmental justice and honor creation. The forum will provide a valuable platform for participants to connect with like-minded individuals, share experiences, and learn practical strategies for leading their communities toward a more sustainable future. 

Registration for the Faith Forum closes on Monday, October 14. For more information and to register, click here.

In a much-anticipated step towards future Chesapeake Bay restoration, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced at its Oct. 8 Oyster Advisory Commission meeting that it will target three new tributaries for large-scale oyster restoration. The selected sanctuaries include Hooper Strait and the Nanticoke River near Dorchester County, and Herring Bay in southern Anne Arundel County. This work will be funded in part by a $10 million NOAA grant dedicated to oyster reef construction in Maryland.

Large-scale oyster restoration has been one of the Chesapeake Bay partnership’s most successful initiatives. In the 2014 Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement, Maryland committed to restoring oysters in five tributaries by 2025. Work has been completed in four tributaries to date, with over 1,000 acres of oyster reefs restored. Oyster reefs filter water and provide essential habitat for other iconic Bay species like blue crab and striped bass.

In its 2024 Hope on the Half Shell report, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) recommended building off this success and targeting oyster restoration in 20 additional Bay tributaries. DNR’s commitment to three new projects is a promising start. It also sets an important example as leaders look to update the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement beyond 2025.

Allison Colden, CBF Maryland Executive Director, issued the following statement:

“Oysters are the bedrock of our ecosystem and are key to adapting to climate change, building resilient shorelines, improving water quality, and supporting local economies. An investment in oyster restoration is an investment in a healthier Chesapeake Bay and more vibrant communities. 

“The Bay Agreement’s current model of targeting and fully restoring tributaries for oysters has been wildly successful, and we should continue building off that progress. DNR’s latest commitment to three new tributaries is a great start towards that effort, but we hope it’s just that—a start. Maryland has dozens of tributaries ripe for additional oyster restoration, which in turn will help mitigate the impacts of climate change, sea level rise, and erosion, as well as clean our waterways, support habitat, and benefit communities.”

As officials plan for the next phase of Chesapeake Bay restoration, states in the Bay watershed will not meet goals to reduce pollution to the Bay by a 2025 deadline despite recent progress, members of Maryland’s congressional delegation and an EPA official said at a press conference yesterday.  

As the 2025 deadline looms, the leaders emphasized the need to maintain momentum on cleaning up the Chesapeake Bay and its rivers and streams, and the importance of states, the federal government, and Washington, D.C., working together in that effort. The Capitol Hill event included Sens. Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen, Reps. Steny Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, Kweisi Mfume, Jamie Raskin, Glenn Ivey, and John Sarbanes, Maryland Secretary of Natural Resources Josh Kurtz, EPA Region III Administrator Adam Ortiz, and Interior Department Deputy Assistant Secretary, Fish and Wildlife and Parks, Matt Strickler.      

The meeting occurred ahead of a Chesapeake Executive Council meeting scheduled for Dec. 10 in Annapolis. There the region’s governors and other federal, state, and D.C. officials will meet to discuss the next phase of Bay cleanup. 

Since the establishment of the Chesapeake Clean Water Blueprint in 2010, the six Chesapeake Bay watershed states and Washington, D.C., in partnership with the federal government, have committed to a 2025 deadline to have practices in place to reduce nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment pollution to the Bay. 

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) is urging action at this crucial meeting. Over 1,800 people  have submitted public comments to EPA echoing CBF’s call for a recommitment to the Bay restoration partnership. Important next steps include:   

• Attendance in person by each of the Executive Council members, including all six Bay watershed governors, the mayor of Washington, D.C., the chair of the Chesapeake Bay Commission, and the EPA Administrator;
• A formal recommitment to maintaining the Bay restoration partnership, as well as meeting the pollution reduction and other restoration goals already agreed to by Executive Council members; and, 
• A commitment by the Executive Council to update the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement by the end of 2025 to address challenges identified by the latest science.

The Chesapeake Executive Council includes the governors of Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, West Virginia, and New York, the mayor of Washington, D.C., the EPA Administrator, and the chair of the Chesapeake Bay Commission. The Chesapeake Bay watershed spans all of these jurisdictions, and cooperative partnership is essential to meeting these goals.

CBF President and CEO Hilary Harp Falk issued the following statement. 

“Chesapeake Bay restoration started as a big, impossible dream that has brought together people from all walks of life and both sides of the aisle. We thank Maryland’s congressional delegation for rightly calling attention to successes so far while recognizing the need for the federal/state Chesapeake Bay partnership to redouble its efforts and commitments.

“Strong action from the Chesapeake Bay Executive Council has been paramount to making progress through the restoration effort’s history. And the Executive Council’s annual meeting this December will be another defining moment not to be missed. That is why we are calling for perfect attendance from its members, including the Chesapeake Bay watershed’s six governors, the mayor of Washington, D.C., the Chesapeake Bay Commission, and federal leaders.

“Only by standing shoulder to shoulder and pledging to update the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement by the end of 2025, can our leaders cement their legacies of delivering clean water, vibrant economies, and a future of pleasant living to the people they represent.”

CBF Applauds Precautionary Measure for Struggling and Essential Blue Crab

In a significant reversal, Virginia state regulators Tuesday killed the possibility of opening the blue crab winter harvest for the upcoming 2024/2025 season. 

The 4-1 vote by the Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC) Tuesday approved a month-long public comment period that will solely consider keeping the 16-year ban on the winter blue crab harvest. Because regulators can’t vote on anything more permissive than what they asked the public to consider, the Tuesday vote ends the prospect of reopening the winter blue crab season for the upcoming season. At their October meeting, the VMRC will entertain potential modifications of the previously adopted crab pot season including a possible December extension and earlier opening next March. 

The vote Tuesday comes after months of criticism within Virginia and Maryland on VMRC’s previous decision to lift the restriction on the winter blue crab harvest. In June, despite their staff’s opposition, VMRC voted 5-4 to remove the prohibition on the winter dredge season, possibly subjecting the vulnerable keystone species to additional harvest over the winter months. 

The winter dredge fishery primarily targets female crabs, which are key to maintaining a strong blue crab population.  It involves scraping crabs using dredges, large, metal, rake-like structures, from the bottom of the Chesapeake Bay where they lie semi-dormant through the winter. Declines in the blue crab population led to a fishery disaster declaration in 2008. That year, closing the winter dredge fishery became one of numerous Chesapeake Bay–wide conservation measures enacted to address the disaster.

As a result, the crabbing season currently runs from mid-March through the middle of December in Virginia. 

Female blue crab numbers declined by nearly 20 million in the recent annual estimate of blue crab numbers in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. In 2024, according to the survey, the adult female crab population decreased to 133 million compared with 152 million last year. This figure falls far below the target of 215 million adult female crabs needed for a healthy population and sustainable harvest in the Chesapeake Bay.  

An ongoing stock assessment, a scientific study expected to shed new light on the factors affecting the Bay’s blue crab population, is expected in March 2026. 

Chesapeake Bay Foundation Virginia Executive Director Chris Moore and member of VMRC’s Crab Management Advisory Committee released the following statement:  

“I am delighted the Commission followed the advice of its crab management advisory committee  and will not consider opening a winter dredge fishery this season.  The advisory committee identified numerous concerns about reopening such a fishery at this time.” 

“VMRC’s decision is a significant step toward a brighter future for the Bay’s blue crab population and helps ensure we have the best available science when making important decisions about Virginia’s blue crab fishery. This decision allows the scientific stock assessment of the many factors affecting the blue crab population to proceed without significant changes occurring in the fishery at the same time, paving the way for sound evidence-based management decisions of this essential species in the future. We applaud this vote.” 

Anglers reeled in 31 unique Chesapeake Bay species during the event

Anglers and Chesapeake Bay supporters had much to celebrate on Sunday, September 15, at the 2024 Maryland Rod & Reef Slam fishing tournament’s closing ceremony at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s Philip Merrill Center in Annapolis. During the tournament, 32 anglers reeled in more than 120 fish, including 31 different species.

Co-hosted by Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF), Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) Maryland, and Chesapeake Oyster Alliance (COA), the Maryland Rod & Reef Slam is one of the most unique fishing tournaments in the Chesapeake Bay region. Anglers are challenged to catch the largest diversity of fish species, rather than just the most or largest fish. Participants also must fish around restored oyster sanctuary reefs to demonstrate the immense habitat and biodiversity the reefs support.

“Fish love oyster reefs and anglers do too,” said Allison Colden, CBF’s Maryland Executive Director. “Not only do oysters filter the water, but their reefs make exceptional habitat for hundreds of aquatic species. A win-win for our slam champions, and the Bay.”

The most frequently caught fish during the tournament were spot and Atlantic croaker. Some of the most unusual catches included pufferfish, cutlassfish, kingfish, spotted sea trout, and pigfish.

The tournament ran from September 7 through September 15. The winners of each division include:

• Grand prize: Herb Floyd, of Trappe, who caught a total of 15 species.
• Powerboat: First place went to Chris Morgan with 11 species, second place to Chris Derr with eight species, and third place to James Traxel with five species.
• Kayak: Ronnie Kirin and Jeff Luoma tied with six species each. After a tie breaker determined by fish length, Ronnie took home first place.
• Youth: First place went to David Rogers with nine species, second place to Parker Barniea with seven species, and third place to Parker Corson with six species.
• Invasive species: Parker Corson of the youth division took first place with an impressive snakehead.

Winners were announced at an award ceremony and after party held at CBF’s Philip Merrill Center in Annapolis. The champions chose from a selection of prizes including a Turtle Box speaker, Toadfish gear, an Engel UltraLite cooler, and more.

“This year’s event proves how habitat today equals fish tomorrow,” said Dave Sikorski, CCA Maryland Executive Director. “The diversity of life on restored oyster reefs directly support the success of our fisheries now and into the future, and that’s all the reason we need to continue to build habitat and partnerships throughout the region.”

The Maryland Rod & Reef Slam helps further CBF, CCA, and COA’s missions by supporting oyster sanctuary reefs in the Chesapeake Bay. Oyster reefs filter water quality and provide habitat for dozens of species such as striped bass and blue crab. COA and its partnership of nonprofits, oyster farmers, and academic institutions are committed to adding 10 billion oysters to the Bay by 2025.

Community event hosted dozens of volunteers to install 100 oyster cages and improve water quality in the Baltimore Harbor and Chesapeake Bay

Today, the Great Baltimore Oyster Partnership, made up of Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore (WPB) and Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF), hosted 35 volunteers to install Maryland’s largest public oyster garden at Lighthouse Point Marina, in partnership with marina managers Oasis Experiences. This celebration marked the 12th oyster planting season for the Great Baltimore Oyster Partnership.

“Oysters are important to Baltimore Harbor because they clearly work at cleaning the water,” said Aaron Tsu, a volunteer oyster gardener. “I like oyster gardening for the sense of community and to spread awareness to help clean the Bay.”

Volunteer oyster gardeners play a crucial role in the Partnership and Baltimore’s oyster restoration efforts. At the event, volunteers filled wire cages with baby oysters, called spat, which CBF had set on hundreds of recycled oyster shells. The cages were then hung over the marina docks where they will stay and grow for the next nine months. This process keeps the oysters, which are most vulnerable during their first year of life, elevated from the Harbor’s muddy bottom. Oyster gardeners will continue to check and tend to them throughout the year during monthly cage cleaning events. After nine months, the oysters are planted out on protected oyster sanctuary reefs. 

Once mature, each oyster can filter up to 50 gallons of water a day, making them a vital resource for improving water quality in the Harbor and Bay. Oysters not only improve water quality, but also provide valuable habitat for wildlife and have been shown to increase species diversity by 40-60%.

The Lighthouse Point Marina site is one of several public oyster gardening locations in Baltimore where people can get involved. 

“We call it oyster gardening, but it’s more like oyster fostering,” said Kellie Fiala, Maryland oyster restoration coordinator at CBF. “You don’t have to have a waterfront property to participate. Lighthouse Point Marina and other public oyster gardening locations are accessible and always need extra hands. Thanks to all the volunteers who came out this event to help get us started.”

Since 2013, the Partnership, with the help of more than 5,000 volunteers, has cultivated more than 1.6 million oysters in Baltimore Harbor. In July 2019, the Partnership met its initial goal of planting out five million oysters. 

“These Inner Harbor oyster gardens become home to much more than just oysters,” said Adam Lindquist, vice president of WPB. “Thousands of eels, shrimp, small fish, and crabs have been thriving alongside the spat. This increase in smaller creatures has helped bring larger predators like rockfish and even river otters back to Baltimore.”

Lighthouse Point Marina on the Canton Waterfront was an early supporter of the Partnership, hosting roughly 60 public oyster cages for years. They recently underwent a major renovation and are now expanding oyster gardening operations to reignite the connections they had with the community. 

“We are thrilled to be partnering with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and the Waterfront Partnership to bring the largest oyster garden in the state to Lighthouse Point Marina,” said Joel Schlossberg, general manager of Lighthouse Point Marina. “The oyster garden installation is part of our ongoing commitment to creating a healthier Baltimore Harbor and Chesapeake Bay. The tens of thousands of oysters that will be raised at Lighthouse Point will contribute to the improving health of our waterway for years to come.”

The Great Baltimore Oyster Partnership receives partial funding from the Chesapeake Oyster Alliance (COA). COA and its partnership of nonprofits, oyster farmers, and community organizations are committed to adding 10 billion oysters to the Bay by 2025.

Event Celebrated Oyster Restoration Benefits and Broke Down Barriers to Fishing

More than 60 anglers caught nine different species of fish from the Hampton River during the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s (CBF) Rod and Reef Slam in Hampton Saturday. 

Anglers as young as six years old reeled in flounder, croaker, and sea bass, among other species of fish for four hours Saturday. From the water, a group of kayakers explored the biodiversity of nearby coves. The event celebrated oyster restoration as well as broadened access to fishing on the Hampton River through education.  

“CBF’s Rod and Reef Slam is not your typical fishing event. Size doesn’t matter. The goal is to connect the community with the joys of fishing, how oyster reefs and the biodiversity they cultivate contribute to great angling, and the importance of clean, local waterways,” CBF Virginia Executive Director Chris Moore said. 

Oyster reefs are essential to the health of the Chesapeake Bay, filtering water and, in great news for anglers, providing habitat for a variety of fish like striped bass, sea trout, as well as the Bay’s iconic blue crab. On Saturday, anglers of all ages and skill levels learned the basics of angling or refined their techniques with expert CBF staff. 

Cameron Harris, a freshman at Hampton University studying marine science, caught two fish by 10:30 am Saturday morning. It was his first time at the Rod and Reef Slam, but he was no stranger to fishing off the pier near Hampton University’s campus. The more oysters, he said, the more the river benefits. 

The oysters in the Bay could once filter a volume of water equal to that of the entire Bay—about 19 trillion gallons—in a week. Today, it would take the remaining Bay oysters more than a year. Decades of overharvesting, habitat destruction, and disease have decimated the Bay’s oyster population. 

CBF and its partners are working to restore oyster reefs in local Virginia rivers. Just last week, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation awarded CBF a grant to bring one million baby oysters to two new sanctuary reefs in the Hampton River. This community-oriented project in the densely populated city will engage Hampton University students and other civic organizations.  

This work will complement CBF’s existing restored reefs, whose success includes increased populations of popular reef fish. 

Explore more oyster facts and view a time lapse video of oysters filtering water.