By james art 
Virginia has made significant investments in the restoration of oyster reefs in Chesapiq Bay, and now a study led by William & Mary’s Batten School & Vims Batten School & Vims suggests that these management practices are literally paid in the Rapahanok River. The study published recently in Environmental Management MagazineHe was led by Batten School of Coastal & Marine Sciences Ph.D. Student Alexandria Markard, who presented the results of the Virginia Maritime Resources Music Management Committee (VMRC) on February 19th.
In addition to the support of local economies, oysters filter the surrounding water of algae and excess nutrients as they pile together to form large reefs that serve as a habitat for many fish and marine animals. Although once in abundance, oyster populations in Chesapik have collapsed in the mid-1980s due to a combination of supercassing and disease. While the Virginia Marine Science Institute seeks to increase the resistance of wild oysters against virulent pathogens, VMRC regulates fishing in Virginia and controls efforts to restore oysters from oysters.
“Restoration of oysters usually focuses on filling the shells, with oyster shells spreading to existing reefs, to which minor oysters are attached and grow. It was an exciting project as it was the first to appreciate the benefits of completing both biological and fishing, “says Marcard, who collaborated with the study with teachers and scientists at Batten School & Vims and VMRC. “The oysters of oysters located on public fishing grounds are not studied to a large extent, but we saw significant benefits from even modest filling. When combined with rotating harvests, the main structure of the reef is maintained and the commercial crops increase. “
The study showed that the density of minor oysters, known as SPAT, increased immediately after filling the shells, while the density of the oyster in the market reached a peak three years later, intensifying the current 3-year rotation protocol of the VMRC harvest. The density of the gateway, although very variable, is the highest of years, coinciding with larger volumes of brown shells, measuring the health of the reef, which refers to the amount of oysters and the sheath above the lower layer of the sludge. It has been shown that marine protected areas have a larger density of market oysters and offer protection against commercial fishing for larger oysters, which can provide a valuable spawning function for fishing.
VMRC started its shell filling program in 2000 and applied rotary harvests in 2007. These practices led to a steady increase in the volume of brown shells throughout the Rapahanok River and increased the likelihood of the warriors encountered the daily borders of the harvest. In general, the study showed that the harvest of oysters is constantly increasing with the improvement of oyster reefs, with the density of market oyster increasing significantly after 2018.
After the 2017-2008 harvest season, over $ 500,000 oysters worth over $ 24 million were raised from the Rapahanok River. VMRC has been investing over $ 14 million to fill in the river since 2000.
“It is a look to see that the scientifically -based management of this fishing provides benefits for both environmental and local economies,” Marquard said. “I am grateful for the opportunity to work with VMRC and contribute to a sustainable oyster industry in Virginia.”