Ruppersberger Announces $6.6 Million for
Oyster Restoration in the Chesapeake Bay

(Annapolis, MD)- Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD) announced $6.6 million for oyster restoration in the Chesapeake Bay at a special ceremony at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation today in Annapolis.  Oysters are such an important part of Maryland’s rich history, but oysters have been hit hard recently.  The Bay’s native oyster population is estimated to be about one percent of what it was at the end of the 19th century.  The declining oyster population not only means tough times for watermen, it also means fewer oysters are helping clean up declining Bay waters. 
 
Oysters filter water in their search for food.  An adult oyster can filter as much as 60 gallons of water a day.  To put it in perspective, the native oyster population could filter all of the water in the Bay in three or four days in the late 19th century.  Now, it takes the oysters close to a year to do the same thing.  Restoring the Chesapeake Bay’s native oyster population is an important part of improving the health of the Bay.      

“I am committed to preserving the environment and protecting the Chesapeake Bay, one of Maryland’s most precious resources.  The Bay provides jobs to watermen, helps tourism, and contributes to our wonderful quality of life here in Maryland.  When you think of the Chesapeake Bay, you think of Maryland blue crabs and oysters.  I have two children and now two grandchildren.  I want them and other Marylanders to be able to enjoy the Bay and all it has to offer like I did growing up.  This $6.6 million will help the Bay thrive for future generations to enjoy,” said Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD).   

The $6.6 million will pay for construction and rehabilitation of oyster habitats and allow over 500 million disease-free, baby oysters known as spat to be produced in a hatchery and planted all over the Chesapeake Bay.  The money was included in the FY 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act that passed Congress and was recently signed into law.  

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