Chesapeake Bay Has Lost 99% of Its Oysters Since 1898 Due to Overexploitation

Chesapeake Bay, once teeming with oysters, has seen its oyster population decline by 99% since 1898. These mollusks historically played a vital role in maintaining water clarity, capable of filtering the entire bay's water within days. Decades of overexploitation and pollution have drastically reduced their numbers, severely degrading water quality in the bay. The loss of oysters has had a significant negative impact on the broader ecosystem they once helped sustain. Conservation efforts are now underway to restore oyster populations and revive the bay's natural filtration system.