Crassostrea virginica

Conservation

Eastern oysters (Crassostrea virginica) are a keystone species, meaning they are an integral part of a healthy marine ecosystem. Oyster reefs provide vital habitat for many of the commercial and recreational species that fishermen, boaters, and naturalists enjoy in New Jersey’s waters. Oyster reefs are home to a host of species including striped bass, blue crab, and summer flounder, among many others. Additionally, a single adult oyster can filter and clear significant volumes of water each day, helping to improve water quality by cycling excess nutrients.    

The Mullica River which spans Ocean, Atlantic, and Burlington Counties, houses one of the last self-sustaining oyster reefs on the Atlantic coast of New Jersey. These reefs are resilient and have survived disease outbreaks, freshwater intrusion, and coastal development.  A qualitative oyster bed health assessment has been performed on the Mullica River reefs since the 1950s and the Bureau of Marine Habitat and Shellfisheries continues to monitor their health and status. Additionally, the Bureau is beginning to adapt this long-standing qualitative assessment to develop into a quantitative survey that will provide additional data on the reefs of the Mullica River. 

Oysters, unlike many other species of shellfish, require a hard substrate to attach to in order to grow. This is an essential part of their lifecycle. Beginning in 2021, the Bureau started an annual shell planting program for the Mullica River oyster reefs. Shell collected by the Marine Resources Administration’s Shell Recycling Program along with additional shell sources are planted on the reefs annually to provide the hard substrate necessary to enhance and expand upon this valuable resource. 

The Delaware Bay is home to most of New Jersey’s oyster resource. More about our Bureau’s management and conservation efforts in Delaware Bay will be highlighted soon.

More information about this species can be found below:

Description

• Bivalve, consisting of two shells attached together at one end by a hinge and large muscle
• Pale white to gray shell
• Shell has rough ridges or bumps

Size

• Averages 3 to 5 inches in length

Range

• Ocean and estuarine waters from the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Canada to the Gulf of Mexico

Facts

• One adult oyster can filter significant amounts of water each day under optimal conditions
• Abundant in shallow saltwater bays, lagoons, and estuaries in water 8 to 25 feet
• Filter feeder; strain food particles from water