History On The Half Shell

Oysters are a salt water delicacy to many food connoisseurs.  Now oysters may provide answers to environmental questions.  The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary we have in North America.  The bay has been the source of environmental attention for many years due to pollution.  A current research study is looking into the depths of the bay and one of its best restoration stories, the oyster.  Oyster shells are hopefully able to provide answers to questions regarding pollution now compared to years ago.  The next time you order oysters on the half shell, remember you are ordering a bite of environmental history!  Enjoy~

“People began to negatively impact the water quality of the Chesapeake Bay earlier than previously thought, a new study finds.”

“Nitrogen is one of the most abundant elements in the planet found in air and water. But when too much of it enters the environment, usually from human activities, the air and water can become polluted. In a study published in Scientific Reports, FIU Ph.D. student Heather Black found pollution in the Chesapeake Bay appeared as early as 1800, but it generally confirms industrialization and deforestation around the bay led to water quality issues before the American Civil War began in 1861.”

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