84 truckloads of oyster shells shipped from Washington to restore Chesapeake Bay

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – In a cross-country effort to replenish the oyster population in Chesapeake Bay, three seafood companies partnered to ship 84 truckloads with millions of Pacific oyster shells from Washington state to Maryland.

Since the start of 2024, Pacific Seafood -- which is headquartered in Clackamas, Ore. -- Madison Bay Seafood and Wittman Wharf Seafood worked together to haul the shells in a 53-foot-long truck to restore the native oyster population -- traveling from Pacific Seafood’s processing location in South Bend, Wash. to the restoration site in Toddville, Md.

The project comes as the oyster fishery faces a shortage of shells for oysters to grow in the bay after years of harvesting and exporting.

Over the next 18 months, the Pacific oyster shells will help repopulate the bay and create oyster reefs that are essential to grow oyster populations and other bay species of fish and crab.

Pacific Seafood said the shells will be placed in the bay by the end of summer.

“At Pacific Seafood, we believe in utilizing all parts of the seafood species to prevent waste,” said Jenn Allison, Pacific Seafood South Bend Plant Manager. “We are proud to help rebuild the oyster population for this public fishery and support an initiative that aligns with our values of sustainability and environmental responsibility.”

The project initially faced skepticism from Maryland’s Department of Natural Resources over concerns about introducing Pacific oysters to Chesapeake Bay; however, research found the shells were compatible to use in the bay and helped the project receive regulatory approval, Pacific Seafood explained.

The company said the project marks a “significant milestone” in marine conservation and shows “the power of cross-coastal collaboration.”