CRISIS ON THE HALF SHELL: THE CHESAPEAKE BAY

With its temperate climate and at one time, a seemingly endless supply of oysters, crab, and seafood in general, the Chesapeake Bay was a haven for early settlers. With overfishing and industrialization, modern farming and deadening fertilizer run-off, parasitic outbreaks and climate change, the Chesapeake now turns to man for survival.

But this is a story of hope. This is a story of what could be, as teams of marine biologists and advocates of all types focus efforts on the major challenge of restoring the oyster population of the Chesapeake.

What’s true here is true in marine environments around the world. Oysters not only provide a water filtration system, but their reefs grow into habitats that can structurally brace coastal areas and shelter marine life in times of storm, encourage biodiversity, and foster the growth of carbon capture plants like sea grasses.

With oceans taking the gut punch of climate change, these restoration efforts are more important than ever, especially in the Chesapeake, the world’s largest estuary.