OYSTERS Crassostrea virginica 2003- 2004 2013- 2014 50,018 BUSHELS 926,425 BUSHELS cbf.org One adult oyster can filter 50 gallons of water per day. That’s the same amount of water that would fill an aver- age bathtub. Significant amounts of pollutant nitro- gen are removed from the water in this process Maryland and Virginia’s economies have lost over $4 Billion Dollars in the last 30 years because of the decline in oysters. Oyster reefs provide habitat and food for crabs, fish, and other Bay critters. Because of their three- dimensional shapes, reefs also break up tidal currents, helping mix oxygen in deeper water. At one time, oysters were so abundant in the Bay that their reefs defined the major river channels. Restoring oyster reefs will bring back the oyster’s important ecological functions. In recent years, oyster harvests have improved dramatically, signalling a possible turnaround for this important species. Increased survival from the diseases that have plagued oysters and a fast-growing aquaculture industry are the primary causes. CBF and our volunteers have planted more than 200 Million Oysters. Sources: Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Virginia Marine Resources Commission Bay-Wide Oyster Harvests