Will Oysters Clean Baltimore Harbor?

WJZ News, Oysters planted near Key Bridge collapse site in effort to clean Maryland waterways

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation resumed oyster restoration efforts near the site of the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse for the first time in nearly a year. More than 31,000 oysters were planted on Wednesday at Fort Carroll, a sanctuary reef a short swimming distance from where the bridge collapsed in March 2024. WJZ joined the Chesapeake Bay Foundation on the Patapsco River to help plant the oysters.

Kellie Fiala, the Maryland Oyster Restoration Coordinator with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, says oysters are a natural filter feeder that filters up to 50 gallons of water each day, which clears the way for better water quality and more wildlife. "It's critical," Fiala said. "Oysters used to be a critical part of the economy here, the environment here, and so what we're really trying to do is reconnect people to the water in a healthy and
positive way, but also improve the water quality here." 

Baltimore Harbor is notoriously silty, to the point that it needs almost constant dredging to keep the ship channels open. I do question the ability of oysters to substantially clear the water in the harbor. 50 gallons per oyster per day sounds like a lot, but it's a pretty big body of water.

WJZ joined the Chesapeake Bay Foundation for an oyster restoration effort in March 2024, the day before the Key Bridge collapsed. Fiala said the collapse sparked fear that the debris would stir up sediment and smother the oysters. But, fortunately, underwater surveying shows the oysters are alive and thriving.  The Chesapeake Bay Foundation expects to plant about 500,000 oysters in the waters this summer.

The oysters being planted at Fort Carroll this summer have been growing throughout marinas in the Harbor, tended to by volunteers. This process of "oyster gardening" helps oysters survive their first year of life, when they're most vulnerable. "We want them to improve water quality, provide habitat, and ecosystem services in Baltimore for the people here," Fiala said.

I'm surprised oysters are thriving north of the Bay Bridge. Oyster require at least some salt in the water to grow, below about 3 ppt salinity they stop feeding.  

The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: Lewis Grizzard Memorial Postready on time and under budget at The Other McCain.