Oyster Gardening: How You Can Help Restore Water Quality & Our Native Oyster!

Chesapeake Bay Foundation Tommy Leggett, Chris Moore, Jackie Harmon

Chesapeake Bay Foundation

• Mission – “Save the Bay” • 200,240 Members • 165 Employees • CBF Works to Save the Bay through – Environmental Education – Environmental Protection – Environmental Restoration Hampton Roads Office - cbf.org/hamptonroads •Food Oysters • Filter • Oyster Landings 1880 - 2001 (1000s of bushels) 8000

7000 Over Harvesting 6000

5000

4000

3000 MSX 2000 Dermo

1000

0 1880 1884 1888 1892 1896 1900 1904 1908 1912 1916 1920 1924 1928 1932 1936 1940 1944 1948 1953 1957 1961 1965 1969 1973 1977 1981 1985 1989 1993 1997 2001 2006 2010 2014

Slide adapted from Virginia Institute of Marine Science (Stan Allen) presentati Oyster Biology

• Oysters are a bivalve (2 shells) mollusk • They mature at age 1 and several times each summer as long as they live • They start their lives as MALES and may become FEMALE as they get older and larger • The bigger they are, the more they produce – a 3” female can produce 30 million eggs. A 3.5” oyster can produce TWICE that many! • The only time they are mobile is as microscopic larvae during their first two – three weeks of life • A single 3” oyster can filter up to 50 gallons of water in a single summer day • Oysters were once abundant enough to filter the volume of Chesapeake Bay in less than a week Aggressive Restoration is the Key!

2010 goal is for a 10X increase in native oyster biomass Strategy for Restoring Oysters

Restore Habitat and Establish Oyster Sanctuaries

“Jump Start” Depleted Populations of Native Oysters

Improve Water Quality By Reducing Runoff of Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Sediment State Sanctuary Reefs

Courtesy of VMRC Oyster Restoration Over 8.5 million cultchless oysters and 8.5 million spat on shell oysters have been transplanted into Virginia tributaries by volunteers, school students, and CBF’s Oyster Restoration Center Lessons Learned

• Oyster abundance and biomass is INCREASING Restoration Factors: in restoration areas ¾ Water quality • Spawning adult oysters are in limited supply, but ¾ Predators stocking oysters on reefs ¾ Availability of Habitat can “jump start” populations ¾ Oyster parasites • Oyster shell habitat is very limited in most parts of the Bay Getting Started • • Fill out and send in VMRC Permit • Obtain cage • Secure the Cage o lines to bag • LOTS of cable ties on floats • START GROWING!!! Non-Commercial Oyster Gardening Permit • Important for the state of VA to track where oysters are grown • Helps to ensure the safety and quality of VA’s industry • No cost to oyster gardeners • One time permit – if you have already filled out a permit you will not have to repeat this process Gardening Permit – Question # 9 Please provide the following required drawings:

1. Vicinity Map - Use a map to depict the exact location of the project site. Please indicate the name of the map used. USGS quadrangle maps, street maps, or county maps are preferred.

2. Plan View Drawing - This drawing must depict the proposed structures as if viewed from above. The drawing must include, a north arrow, the waterway name, the location of mean high water and mean low water, the location of any submerged aquatic vegetation at the site, the width of the waterway, the direction of ebb and flood of the , your property lines and shoreline, the opposite shoreline if the waterway is less than 500 feet wide, the depth of water at the project site, and the location of the existing navigation channel. A recent plat of the property, if available, provides a good scaled template for the plan view drawing.

3. Cross Sectional Drawing - The cross sectional drawing must show the dimensions of the proposed structures as viewed from the side. It should include the depth of the water and any structures which will be used secure the floats or cages. If the application is for floats which will be secured to your existing pier, a cross sectional drawing will not be required. Oyster Gardening Basics

• Shake oysters once a week • Evict every 1 – 2 weeks – they LOVE to eat oysters • Move your oysters to the larger-mesh bag when the oysters are large enough to stay inside the mesh • Split oysters if the bag is too full and/or heavy • Keep your oyster float and bags clean – this promotes good water flow across the oysters The Finer Points

• Oyster Evacuation Plan! ¾ Remember to remove/secure oysters during storm events. Not just hurricanes! • Do the Flip ¾ You can reduce your cleaning by flipping the bags over • Open Side Up! ¾ Always pull or lift your bag using the “open” side, otherwise you oysters may go swimming. Frequently Asked Questions

• Can oysters live out of the water? ¾ Yes – they are well adapted for living in the (between high and low tide) OR in deeper waters • How big will they get? ¾ Oysters grow fastest in high salinity (salty) water – they can easily reach 3” or more in just one year • Does it matter if they are under my dock? ¾ The oysters don’t need light, and shading your float or bags by securing them beneath your dock may actually reduce the amount of algae that grows on them (reducing your cleaning time and effort) Frequently Asked Questions • Can the oyster bags lay on the bottom? ¾ No. Oysters should be suspended in the water so they do not get covered by sediments. • What if I can’t put my oysters in the water right away? ¾ You can put in refrigerator for 24 hrs. Bring to room temperature before putting in water. • What kind of oysters are these? ¾ You are growing native oysters, purchased from a commercial hatchery here in Virginia and reared at Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s oyster farm nursery for the past month. Next Steps

• Begin growing your oysters! • Split them into more bags • Watch out for Freezing/Low Water Conditions • Register for a Oyster Roundup - Summer 2011 • Encourage others to get involved! • Have FUN! THANK YOU for getting involved in restoring the native oyster and helping to SAVE THE BAY!!