Overharvesting is devastating Chesapeake Bay’s aquatic life

Oyster numbers dramatic drop 

MC Kiwanians hear good news
that efforts are in place to halt this

At a recent Middlesex County Kiwanis Club meeting, Jen Segan from Friends of the Rappahannock presented some very alarming information. The Rappahannock River, part of the Chesapeake Bay watershed, has seen a dramatic collapse in its oyster population, mirroring the overall bay’s decline. Oyster populations in the Chesapeake Bay have fallen to about 1% of their historical levels of 150 years ago! According to the Kiwanians’ speaker, the main causes of this decline have been overharvesting, loss of oyster habitat, and disease.

The good news is that collaborative efforts involving local seafood businesses, schools, nonprofit organizations, and homeowners are under way. A focus of this effort is oyster shell recycling to provide the means to build oyster reefs. The oyster shells attract spat, which grow into mature oysters, which in turn clean the river water.

Oyster shells are collected from restaurants, private individuals, and at events like the recent Urbanna Oyster Festival. One Middlesex Kiwanian, Carol Healey, has worked with Friends of the Rappahannock, local restaurants, and the Urbanna Town Marina to build a reef on Urbanna Creek. Another initiative on the north shore of our river is to clean Carter Creek. Some of the members of the partnership working to build oyster reefs to achieve this goal include Kellum Seafood, The Tides Inn, Hope and Glory, and local homeowners.

So, after you enjoy eating some oysters, recycle the shells so that folks can continue to enjoy oysters and their habitat, the Rappahannock. You can drop off your oyster shells in a bin that is located at the Urbanna Town Marina.

For information about Friends of the Rappahannock, contact riverfriends.org/oyster/ or look for them on social media.