A joint effort between NOAA and CBF placed 6.4 million oyster spat (oyster seeds) on Swan Point between last Thursday and yesterday. Conveyers on the CBF research vessel, Patricia Campbell, sprayed the spat over a two-acre artificial reef in the hope of restoring some of the Bay’s natural filtration system.
“This is to provide habitat for fish and other marine life,” said the boat’s captain, Karl Willey. “An average adult oyster can filter up to 15 gallons of water per day.” He said that just about every fish that travels up the Bay will visit the Swan Point Oyster Bar because of its location, a few miles south west of Rock Hall Harbor.
Willey said the idea came from the implosion of the Simkins Dam in the Patapsco River about a year ago—to re-open the river to migratory fish. NOAA funded the removal of the Simkins Dam, and the rubble was used to build a reef on a two-acre location at Swan point—where the rest of the oyster spat was laid yesterday.
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The spat were grown at CBF’s Oyster Restoration Center in Shady Side, MD, where oyster larvae produced by University of Maryland’s Horn Point Lab are released into large settling tanks filled with oyster shells and Bay water. In a few days the larvae attach to shells and become ‘spat’ and are later transplanted on restored sanctuary reefs or man-made reefs.
But getting the project completed took some negotiation. Maryland State Delegate Jay Jacobs (R-36) initially opposed the plan because of concern from Kent County Watermen’s Association about smothering areas known for good crabbing. Jacobs was later able to broker a compromise with CBF and the KCWA on the location of the reef–that moved the plan forward.
“If I could make the waterman feel secure about their crab beds, I thought the reef was a good idea,” Jacobs said. “We have to do whatever we can to restore the health of the Bay. At the end of the day, it helps preserve the watermen’s way of life…we have to do what we can, when we can.”
Carla Massoni says
Thanks Jay for understanding the delicate balance of saving the Bay…the waters, the communities, the way of life.
Joe Diamond says
Damnit Jay!
Now you have done it.
When they go to look for a site for the Essex / Rock Hall exit from the Baltimore Beltway how are they gona do it if you go and create prime ‘arster grounds?
If the third span of the Bay Bridge ends up elsewhere or is delayed for another century it’ll be on you.
Joe