The Eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) is an iconic food and cultural resource in the Mobile Bay. As an important indicator of the health of the Bay, oysters form reefs that provide habitat for other estuarine species, reduce long-term erosion of the shoreline, and filter pollutants from the water itself. A single oyster can remove harmful nitrogen and sediments from approximately ten gallons of water per day. Unfortunately, local populations of the Eastern oyster continue to dramatically decline due to both human and environmental impacts, and it is estimated that over 80% of Mobile Bay’s oyster populations have decreased since 1950 according to commercial landings data.
