| Basin restoration overview: Tangier
and Pocomoke Sounds were chosen as oyster restoration sites
because they historically supported oyster populations and
are known as regions of good oyster growth and survival but
typically low recruitment. During 2002, USACOE funds were
used to create 150 acres of 2 dimensional oyster habitat (shell
plants) and 8 acres of 3 dimensional (3D) oyster reefs. These
sanctuary areas are subtidal and were not initially stocked
with oysters. In early 2003, natural recruitment onto 5 of
the 3D reefs was supplemented with 30 million oysters that
were transplanted onto the reefs through a collaborative program
between local watermen, VMRC, and the USACOE. |
