There is a growing oyster reef along York River State Park's living shoreline.

Importance to the ecosystem

Besides being a favorite among seafood lovers, oysters are very efficient filter feeders.  One adult bivalve can clean 20 to 50 gallons of water per day.  During the colonial era, it was said the oyster reefs were large enough for ships to run aground on them.  The Chesapeake Bay was renowned for being a clear waterway.  

The oyster population suffered significant degradation due to several factors.  Entire reefs were removed by dredging and overharvesting. Shells weren’t returned to the water, so seed oysters (spat) had nothing firm to attach to and grow.  Silt from farms and polluted hard-surface runoff limited reef growth.  Finally, diseases in the 1980s severely crippled the once legendary Chesapeake oyster harvest.  Today, we are harvesting a little over one percent of what we did 100 years ago.

Partners for progress

In 2022, the York River State Park interpretive staff reached out to the Tidewater Oyster Gardener’s Association (TOGA) to explore the idea of growing oysters in Taskinas Creek to establish a reef along the York.  TOGA donated three “tidal tumbler” cages with “spat tubes” to further protect 1,000 seed oysters to grow.  The organization also provided us with two tri-fold displays where guests can learn more about these amazing bivalves.  After a year of tending to the cages, we released over 700 mature oysters on one of the six rock jetties of our living shoreline in November 2023.

To highlight our efforts, Earth Day at York River State Park had a special focus on oysters, with other groups including the Chesapeake Bay National Research Reserve, Minorities in Aquaculture, and the Historic Rivers Chapter of the Virginia Master Naturalists.  As part of our Dabble in Discovery programs, we offer Operation Oyster Reef to share more about their role in the ecosystem with park guests.

Promising Results

Oyster spat from anywhere attach themselves to shells and other hard surfaces to build up “rocks” and reefs.  We have oysters growing on each of our jetties, originating from the adults we planted and from elsewhere. They are not to be harvested for human consumption.  Instead, these growing reefs promote more marine life as they purify the water around them.  While dip netting, we’ve noticed an increase in grass shrimp, which use the shells as shelters from predators.  Also, juvenile red drum, striped bass (locally called “rockfish”) and white perch are in the area as well.  The growing fish will feed on the shrimp and grow along the shoreline. 

We may see some unique bird life here soon as well.  A juvenile yellow-crowned night heron has been photographed near the rocks along the Mattaponi Trail.  No doubt, it was feeding on the sand fiddler crabs.  American oystercatchers can be seen on a reef downriver at Machicomico State Park.  It would be great to see this iconic coastal bird this far upriver feeding on oysters.

Guest Participation

We cannot offer samples of our tasty bivalves.  But oysters can be seen on any of the jetties at low tide.  Join one of our Fossil Frenzy hikes, and the ranger can take you to them.  The Living Shoreline Trek is another ranger-guided event where oysters are found.  With adult supervision, self-adventurous junior rangers are welcome to wade near these remarkable shellfish carefully.  Feel free to contact our interpretive staff at 757-566-8523 to arrange an oyster-specific program for your group.