Reps. Jen Kiggans (R-Va.) and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) have introduced legislation to create a competitive grant program to support restoring and protecting oyster reefs.
The Oyster Reef Recovery Act of 2024 would establish an Oyster Restoration and Conservation Program within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and allow it to dedicate up to $15 million annually for the next five years to oyster recovery work.
Oyster reefs are vital to the health of the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem. They improve water quality, provide habitat for fish, crabs, and other aquatic species, and support a fishery at the heart of the regional economy. Restoring the native population, currently just a small fraction of its historical size due to disease, pollution, and overharvesting, is essential to restoring the Bay and its waterways.
Click here to read the full article.