Research & Restoration

Restoring oysters to ecological prominence in the Chesapeake Bay will take dedicated scientific research and innovation. Work is underway in several areas, including:

• Disease - From ecologists to molecular biologists, scientists are working to better understand the two parasites responsible for major Chesapeake Bay oyster mortalities, Dermo and MSX.

• Disease-resistance - Researchers in the mid-Atlantic are partnering through CROSBreed to develop hatchery-raised strains of native Chesapeake oysters that have been bred to resist both MSX and Dermo.

• Oyster planting - Disease-free oyster spat from the Horn Point Laboratory’s hatchery fuels the work of the Oyster Recovery Partnership (ORP), a diverse collaboration of stakeholders working to produce and plant oyster spat on shell for various restoration projects throughout the region.

• Reef reconstruction - With the large natural oyster reefs mostly gone, where do you plant the oyster spat? Reef reconstruction is largely seen as a solution, but questions remain. Where should they be located? What size should they be? How many reefs will it take to make a difference? Scientists are researching the answers to these questions and more, including the ecological value of reefs and oyster longevity in relation to disease and reef structures.

• Aquaculture - What is the future role for aquaculture in the Bay? How might it work? What are the best policies to promote an appropriate oyster aquaculture industry in Maryland?