Author: Rob Frank

Abstract
	With the Chesapeake Bay oyster population at a mere 1% of historical levels, scientists and politicians are highly concerned about the future of the bay. Oysters provide important ecological functions such as water filtration and their reefs provide habitat for many other species. In addition, oyster harvesting has a rich cultural background in Maryland and once provided a lucrative economy for harvesters. In an attempt to restore oyster populations, Maryland’s politicians have considered several options including doing nothing, introducing a non-native species of Asian oysters, aquaculture of the native species, and a combination of aquaculture and a moratorium on wild catches. 

Introduction
	The Chesapeake Bay’s native oyster is typically thought of as a hardy species able to tolerate a wide range of conditions including water salinity, temperature, and habitat conditions. However, they are facing new pressures from disease (MSX and Dermo), pollution, and over-harvesting that are extremely detrimental to their population, which currently is at about 1% of their most abundant levels (NOAA). Restoration of the Chesapeake Bay oyster population is crucial to improving the health of the bay, plus helping the local economy as it concerns waterfront communities.
	Oysters in the Chesapeake Bay serve an importance ecological purpose, and are considered to be a “keystone species;” one that the entire ecosystem depends on to run smoothly. They feed by filtering microscopic plant life, which improves water quality and clarity. Adult oysters typically filter about 60 gallons of water per day and in the process they consume or condense sediment and excess nutrients and deposit them in the form of small packets on the bottom of the Bay, so that they do not affect water quality and provide food for other marine organisms (CBF). At one time there were enough oysters in the Bay to be able to filter the entire volume of water in the Bay (approximately 19 trillion gallons) in one week (CBF). There are so few oysters remaining that this task would currently take more than a year, which is contributing to the overwhelming pollution of the Bay’s water (CBF). In addition to filtering water, oysters provide habitat for other life forms in the Bay. Oyster reefs supply small nooks and hard surfaces desirable by many marine organisms, which in turn attracts larger fish and are known to be prime fishing locations by local fishermen(CBF). 
	Oyster harvesting is also an important part of Maryland’s history, economy, and culture. For over 100 years, oyster harvesting has been one of the area’s most lucrative fisheries, but has 
gotten to the point of nearly collapsing. Many oyster harvesters have been in the industry for generations and are unwilling to give up their livelihoods, therefore it is necessary to take action now in order to preserve Maryland’s rich waterfront culture.	Several different strategies could be implemented to increase oyster population in the Bay. These include doing nothing, introducing the Asian oyster species to the bay, aquaculture of native oyster species, or native species aquaculture and a moratorium on existing populations. 

	

	

Option 1: Continuing As Is With No Interference
	This is the easiest course of action for everyone, however it will certainly not yield the desired results. Oyster harvesting has basically continued without regulations for hundreds of years, which is part of the reason the current situation looks so dire. Over-harvesting, combined with water pollution and oyster diseases has led to today’s record-low numbers, so ideally all of these factors should be worked on to ensure oyster repopulation success. 		

Option 2: Introduction of the Asian Oyster to the Chesapeake Bay Ecosystem
	Some advocate the release of the non-native Asian Oyster into the Chesapeake Bay, as this breed is less susceptible to the diseases that plague the native species and would provide a more promising harvest for fishers. However, when a non-native species is introduced to any area, there will be unknown consequences. The Bay is in such an unpredictable state currently that scientists agree that the unknown risks outweigh the benefits the species could bring. The original plan was to introduce sterile Asian oysters to control their numbers and keep them balanced in the ecosystem, but with such a procedure there is no guarantee that large numbers would remain sterile. If they began reproducing, they would soon out-compete and replace native oysters, which would impact all life in the Chesapeake Bay (WJZ). 

Option 3: Aquaculture of the Native Oyster Species
          Unlike some other forms of aquaculture such as salmon farming, oyster aquaculture is considered to be very environmentally sound. Oysters feed on naturally occurring algae so no additional nourishment is required, plus their waste is actually beneficial as it condenses loose sediment into forms that actually improve water quality (Jones). Farmed oysters can be contained in trays for their entire life until harvest-time, or can be released into the Bay to mingle and reproduce with existing wild oysters. The industry of privately-run oyster farming operations is increasing and farmers are able to sell their harvest to restaurants and consumers. Although quite different than harvesting wild oysters, this supplies jobs while still allowing oyster farmers to work on the water without exploiting the wild population. State funded programs also use aquaculture to raise young oysters with the goal of reintroduction into the Bay. Oysters that have the opportunity to grow in size without the threat of disease have a higher chance of survival and reproduction (Blankenship). This option would still allow oystermen to harvest wild oysters from the bay. 

Option 4: Aquaculture and Moratorium of Native Oyster Species
	This option includes the above concept of aquaculture, plus a ban on wild oyster harvesting by providing reef sanctuaries. Bay residents expect the oyster to remain both an “ecological and economical force,” and with the oyster population at an all-time low, this will be impossible without keeping the two expectations separate. With aquaculture and a moratorium implemented, the oyster harvesting industry will be able to continue while oysters can repopulate in the Bay without the added danger of overharvesting. A recent report from the Maryland Oyster Advisory Commission concluded that “today's depleted oyster population cannot rebound to levels that would provide ecological values while also supporting harvests,” therefore this option seems the most feasible in reality (Blankenship). 

Conclusions

         Doing nothing is an irresponsible action that cannot be expected to bring the desired results. The Bay is in its current state because we have been doing nothing for far too long. 
	The introduction of Asian oysters has recently been turned down, thus eliminating it as an option (WJZ). This option would have been very risky and could have led to the irresponsible decision to intentionally release a non-native species without being certain of the outcome. 
	Aquaculture is a good option for the Chesapeake Bay because it ensures a reasonable amount of oysters for harvesting, but this alone cannot solve the oyster population problem. 		

Recommendations
	The best course of action would be to expand aquaculture and place a moratorium on wild oyster harvests. This will allow native populations to reproduce and improve the Bay’s water quality, which will make breeding easier for future generations of oysters. Displaced oystermen should be provided with aquaculture jobs to ensure the success of oyster harvests to come. Although this decision will no doubt be frustrating to many oystermen who depend on the Bay for their livelihoods, if they are allowing to continue harvesting as is, there will soon be no oysters left at all. A moratorium might seem like an extreme regulation, but it is an extreme circumstance being considered with only 1% of historical oyster populations remaining. Expansion of the aquaculture program and a moratorium on wild oyster harvests is the plan with the most likely degree of success in reestablishing a population of oysters that can provide the Chesapeake Bay with all the benefits it was once able to. 
Works Cited
Blankenship, Karl. "Large Sanctuaries Urged for Recovery of Wild Oyster 
Population." Bay Journal. Apr. 2009. Chesapeake Bay Program. 3 May 2009 
<http://www.bayjournal.com/article.cfm?article=3561>. 
DeMetrick, Alex. "Asian Oysters Not an Option for Chesapeake Bay." WJZ 
Baltimore. 7 Apr. 2009. 24 Apr. 2009 <http://wjz.com/local/ 
asian.oysers.bay.2.978792.html>. 
"Joint Decision Made to Remain Fully Committed to Native Oysters." Maryland 
Department of Natural Resources. Apr. 2009. 24 Apr. 2009 
<http://www.dnr.state.md.us/dnrnews/infocus/oysters.asp>. 
Jones, Laurie. "Return of the Oysters: In the Chesapeake Bay, Aquaculture Isn’t 
All Bad." Chow.com. Oct. 2006. 3 May 2009 <http://www.chow.com/stories/ 
10143>. 
"Native Oysters." NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office. Feb. 2008. National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration. 24 Apr. 2009 <http://chesapeakebay.noaa.gov/ 
nativeoysters.aspx>. 
"Oyster Fact Sheet." Chesapeake Bay Foundation. 2008. 24 Apr. 2009 
<http://www.cbf.org/site/PageServer?pagename=resources_facts_oysters>.