Is the Chesapeake Bay an estuary?

The largest estuary in North America, the Chesapeake Bay Watershed covers 64,000 square miles and includes more than 150 rivers and streams that drain into the Bay.

What do oysters filter from the Chesapeake Bay?

Filters. Oysters purify the Chesapeake Bay as they filter the water for their food. An adult oyster can filter as much as 50 gallons of water a day. Sediment and nitrogen cause problems in Bay waters.

Which crustacean is the biggest industry of the Chesapeake Bay?

Blue crabs also support a large recreational fishery in the Bay, and are the estuary’s highest-valued commercial fishery. Over the past 60 years, blue crabs have dominated Chesapeake Bay fisheries, with an estimated one-third of the nation’s blue crab catch coming from the Bay.

How much seafood do we harvest out of the Chesapeake Bay in a year?

The Bay’s Fisheries and Seafood Industry Five-hundred million pounds of seafood are harvested each year from the Chesapeake Bay supporting the region’s livelihoods and ways of life.

Where is the watermen’s Museum in Yorktown Va?

Located on the Yorktown, Virginia waterfront just upriver from the Riverwalk shopping and dining area, the Watermen’s Museum is the perfect addition to your Historic Triangle visit.

What do kids learn at the watermen’s Museum?

Kids also learn first-hand about Environmental Stewardship, the seafood bounty of the Chesapeake Bay, and the role commercial Watermen have played in harvesting and guarding the Bay. Please help us through a small donation.

How did the Waterman pick up the oysters?

Hand tongs were developed to pick up the oysters from a boat. Hand tongs are a long scissor-like tool with metal rakes on the ends. The waterman stands on the side of his boat, opens the tongs, and reaches to the bottom of the river. He closes the tongs, scooping the oysters between the rakes.