Our Watershed

Oysters Are Important for a Healthy Chesapeake Bay

A healthy oyster population is necessary to help maintain the health of the Chesapeake Bay.

When I was growing up here in the 60s, my mother taught me that local oysters were available during months that had the letter “R” in the name. I would look forward to the arrival of fall because it meant oysters would once again be featured in restaurants and available in grocery and seafood stores. I first tried eating these tasty bivalves as a youngster at a church-sponsored ham and oyster supper where they were coated in cornmeal and fried to a golden brown color. I have to admit I wasn’t sure I would like the taste of these creatures which come from shells that look like deformed rocks, but after dipping them in some cocktail sauce I quickly discovered I enjoyed eating fried oysters. Back then, the supply of oysters was plentiful as …

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