Oyster Restoration on the Lafayette River

Animals Beyond our Fences!

They're not furry, feathery or covered in scales, but the humble oysters are one of the mightiest animals at the Virginia Zoo!

It takes just one oyster one day to purify 50 gallons of polluted water. Unfortunately, our region's oyster population has drastically diminished due to pollution, disease and over fishing, but their benefits are needed now more than ever. That's why the Virginia Zoo is proud to partner with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF), NOAA and other environmental and government organizations to help restore oyster reefs in the Lafayette River .

Along the shoreline that borders the Zoo, volunteers have constructed three sanctuary reefs from recycled oyster shells. Zoo staff will monitor and maintain these, which will produce thousands of baby oysters, called “spat,” to seed the reefs.

More info rmation about the Zoo's Oyster Restoration Project is posted at the bridge near the Zoo's pond. For this project to be truly successful, CBF needs more volunteers to grow oysters along other parts of the Lafayette River . If you would like to help out by creating an oyster garden where you live, call CBF at (757) 622-1964 or visit www.cbf.org/virginiaoysters.