UK: How restored oyster reefs enhance overall seafood harvests

Published Mar 22, 2021

Tridge summary

A new report by NOAA Fisheries, in partnership with other institutions, highlights the benefits of restored oyster reefs in the Chesapeake Bay. The study, conducted in Maryland and Virginia, finds that these reefs improve water quality by filtering nitrogen, provide vital habitat for crabs and fish, and can enhance commercial fishing and local economies. Restored reefs in Harris Creek alone could increase blue crab harvest by over 150% and boost annual dockside seafood sales by $11 million. NOAA aims to restore oyster populations and habitat in 10 tributaries by 2025.

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Original content

How restored oyster reefs enhance overall seafood harvests. NOAA Fisheries scientists and their partners at several other academic and research institutions explored how restored oyster reefs help the Chesapeake Bay. They have released their findings in a new NOAA Fisheries Technical Memorandum. The report quantified how oyster reefs improve water quality and provide habitat, as well as supporting commercial fishing and local economies. The report includes information from Oyster Reef Ecosystem Services projects in both Maryland and Virginia that were carried out or funded by the NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office. The projects focused on quantifying the benefits that restored oyster reefs bring to the ecosystem and people. Chesapeake Bay is home to the largest oyster restoration effort in the world. NOAA and partners are working to restore healthy oyster populations and habitat in 10 tributaries by 2025. In just one of these tributaries—Harris Creek on Maryland’s Eastern Shore—350 acres ...

Source: Fish Focus