Chesapeake Bay Partners Achieve Large-Scale Oyster Restoration Goal

Today at a celebratory event in Annapolis, dozens of environmental partners marked a major milestone for oyster restoration in Chesapeake Bay. Totaling roughly 2,000 acres of habitat restored, this effort is considered the largest oyster restoration initiative in the world. 

The 2014 Chesapeake Bay Agreement—a joint federal and state plan to restore the Bay—outlined a key goal for partners to fully restore 10 Bay tributaries for oyster habitat by the end of 2025. That goal was officially exceeded earlier this summer. 

The now-restored tributaries include Maryland’s Manokin, Harris Creek, Little Choptank, Tred Avon, St. Mary’s rivers, and Virginia’s Lynnhaven, Lafayette, Piankatank, Great Wicomico, Lower York, and Eastern Branch of the Elizabeth rivers. The Eastern Branch of the Elizabeth River is considered Virginia’s sixth ‘bonus’ tributary, bringing the total to 11 rivers restored, exceeding the initial goal. 

Most of these reefs are meeting or greatly exceeding goals for oyster abundance. Not only are oysters a keystone species in the Bay, but they create habitat for other animals and naturally filter the water. A single adult oyster can filter up to 50 gallons a day. 

To continue this exciting momentum, Maryland DNR has already committed to fully restoring an additional three tributaries for oyster restoration in Maryland. Governor Wes Moore is chair of the Chesapeake Executive Council—the bipartisan federal-state Chesapeake Bay restoration partnership. The council includes Governors from all six Chesapeake Bay watershed states including Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania, and federal partners including the Environmental Protection Agency and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). 

This summer, members of the community had the opportunity to submit feedback on an updated Chesapeake Bay Agreement, which the Council is currently reviewing. CBF urges the updated agreement to accelerate the scale and pace of oyster restoration, including an additional 2,400 acres of oyster sanctuary reef by 2035.  

CBF also urges Congress to fully fund the oyster restoration work of key federal partners like NOAA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and reject provisions in the House Appropriations Committee’s bill for NOAA, which could open oyster sanctuaries to commercial fishing and cut off funding to restore underperforming sanctuaries.  

These bipartisan, partner-driven efforts will be key for the continued success of oyster restoration in the Bay. 

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

“Chesapeake Bay oyster restoration is a shining success story. In Maryland alone, the oyster population has tripled since 2005. Building on that success, Maryland DNR has already started its work toward the next oyster restoration goal.  

“As we move forward, we know that this large-scale effort has created a strong foundation for the oyster’s comeback. It also shows us there is hope for the Bay to bounce back in ways no one thought was possible. We must continue to use this model of collaborative, targeted restoration across the Bay’s vast, bipartisan partnership. 

“We applaud the leadership of Governor Wes Moore and DNR Secretary Josh Kurtz as we continue defining the future of Bay saving. And we are eager to continue work with our federal partners and neighboring states so all can benefit from the power of oysters.”