Joe's Job: Oyster restoration

First we loaded spat on shell oysters at the pier at the Norfolk Yacht and Country Club. A convenient location since we were delivering some of the 300,000 spat into the oyster sanctuary in the nearby Lafayette River. Senator Tim Kaine volunteered on this day and so I was sort of doing a Joe's and Tim's job with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF).

"I really care a lot about it. The CBF does such a great job working in tandem with these other agencies, both the Elizabeth River project and NOAA and Army Corps of Engineers. So this is a way to come back and reconnect, hear what's going on now and see how I can help in the Senate," Senator Kaine said.

Thousands of spat and we were dumping all the bushels into the Knitting Mill Creek area on the Lafayette River. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation staffers are in their element doing this job too.

"And they work hard. They work long days. They're out in the elements no matter what and they're doing the hard work that really helps oysters survive," said Christy Everett, Hampton Roads Director of the CBF.

Once we finished with all our bushels we headed further up the river to drop some reef balls into the water. These weigh 120 pounds each. Kalie Johnson jumped in the water to help out.

"There aren't enough oyster shells to do all the restoration work that we need. So these oyster reef balls serve as habitat not only for oysters to permanently attach to but also lots of other bay species that we find important too," said Jackie Shannon from CBF.

"So this is kind of like the traditional waterman day work of old. Which is trying to restore the oyster reef so that more will grow. And then learn to do it with 21st Century technology is great!" continued Kaine.

As I always do I had to ask my supervisor if she thought I would make it in this job.

"I think it's pretty hard to be a member of the Chesapeake Bay restoration crew. In other words don't quit your day job, Joe," said Everett.

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