Chesapeake BaySavers, an Annapolis-based environmental non-profit organization, participated in the creation of Baltimore’s largest oyster garden in the Inner Harbor on September 24th, 2016. Oysters are of vital importance to the health of the Chesapeake Bay, as one adult oyster can filter up to 50 gallons of water each day, and restoring Maryland’s oyster population is a central focus for the Chesapeake BaySavers.
Driven by its mission to create a healthier Chesapeake Bay, the Chesapeake BaySavers was successful in helping pass many legislative measures that protect the Chesapeake Bay’s oyster population. This year, the non-profit played an instrumental role in helping push the Sustainable Oyster Population and Fishery Act of 2016 through the Maryland House and Senate, which ensures a sustainable oyster harvest rate and helps prevent overfishing. In addition to working to restore the local oyster population, the Chesapeake BaySavers recently began a water monitoring initiative along Spa Creek in Annapolis, in partnership with Spa Creek Conservancy, to determine the safety and health of water flowing into the Bay.
“Oysters are a critical component to the restoration of our waterways and our national treasure, the Chesapeake Bay. With just one oyster garden, we’re making a huge impact on the quality of our local waterways, which affects the lives and livelihoods of many Maryland residents,” said Evan Thalenberg, Co-Founder and President of Chesapeake BaySavers. “We’ve made significant strides in helping to improve the Bay’s health, and as we look ahead to the 2017 legislative session, our focus on protecting the State’s natural resources and fighting those who seek to harm it remains strong.”
The oyster planting initiative, guided by Waterfront Partnership’s Healthy Harbor Initiative and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, led volunteers in building over 100 cages and planting more than 60,000 spat-on-shell, making this the largest oyster garden to exist in Baltimore. In nine months, the matured oysters will be placed in a protected oyster sanctuary by Fort Carroll to filter the water of the Patapsco River.
If interested in partnering with the Chesapeake BaySavers to host an oyster planting in Annapolis, please contact Marisa Sames at 443-837-6857 or at [email protected].
