They checked them out, rinsed off sediment and algae and crossed their fingers for the baskets of oysters hanging from their docks.
And in the past few weeks, oyster gardeners bid farewell to their oysters after raising them for several months. The oysters are being planted on sanctuary reefs in the Chesapeake Bay and its rivers, where they'll hopefully grow, reproduce and filter the water.
Along the way, volunteer oyster-growers have learned about the troubled shellfish and had a small...
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Fulfilling work - 2010-06-19 07:52:57
As the article mentions, oyster gardeners make an important contribution to the restoration of our aquatic environment. Directly, there's the value of the restored ecosystem - with the oysters serving as the foundation upon which all other species are dependent for health. But equally important is the "indirect" value of oyster gardening: folks who garden oysters and plant them in their local waters - become more aware, engaged, and passionate about matters that effect the health of their creek.
About 4 weeks ago, about 20 folks from the community of Emerald Cove on Battle Creek in Calvert County, supported by the Southern Maryland Oyster Cultivation Society and the Coastal Conservation Association - assembled to plant on their new reef, literally in their backyards, the oysters that they've been raising at their piers for the previous year. You could not find twenty more happy, more enthusiastic people - anywhere. They had raised the oysters, acquired some 200 bushels of oyster shell (to serve as a base) from local restaurants, and performed the planting of base and living oysters - by themselves. It was an outstanding demonstration of citizen stewardship and a model for how people can make a difference in their local waters - hats off to Emerald Cove!
But it doesn't end there... today the EC homeowners have "reloaded" with more oyster spat to be nurtured for the next year. And you can bet that these folks are a bit more thoughtful and conscientious about how their daily activities might effect the health of the oysters and their creek. So not only do oysters directly repair our aquatic ecosystems, but they also assist people in becoming better stewards and more engaged in protecting and restoring their local waters - pretty amazing stuff for an animal that just sits there!
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