Save the Oysters - Introducing Non-natives in the Chesapeake Bay

Since the introduction of MSX and Dermo in the
1950’s, two infectious diseases that played a large role in the decline
the Chesapeake Bay’s oyster population, several oyster hatcheries along
the Eastern seaboard are working with scientists across many fields to
develop innovative restoration programs. One idea is to introduce a
non-native oyster from China called Crassostrea ariakensis.

In
this video podcast, MicrobeWorld talks about current research underway
with C. ariakensis, the potential risk of new diseases that could
affect the Bay’s ecology and/or human health, the attitudes of
Maryland’s watermen toward the oysters possible introduction, and the
role of local, state and federal policy.

Special thanks goes
out to the DC Science Writers Association, the Marian Koshland Science
Museum and the University of Maryland Center for Environmental
Science’s Horn Point Laboratory for helping with the logistics and
planning of the shoot.