A federal experiment in restoring oysters to the Chesapeake Bay this summer unexpectedly turned into an underwater buffet for shellfish-loving predators, with about $45,000 worth of oysters quickly eaten, scientists said yesterday.
In June, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dumped about 1 million oysters into Virginia’s Great Wicomico River. But within weeks, about 750,000 of the oysters were consumed by a creature called the cownose ray…
The demise of the oysters, first reported yesterday by the Virginian-Pilot in Norfolk, is not the first time that nature has crossed scientists’ attempts to revive wildlife in the bay.
In 1985, for instance, a moratorium was imposed to protect the declining population of rockfish. That was good news for rockfish, but it turned out to be bad news for blue crabs, one of the fish’s favorite meals.
No fixed plans. Not intent upon arriving.