Oysters have much more to offer than their delicious, briny savor – they provide habitat for many animals, function as a water treatment plant, protect shorelines from erosion, and support economic development along our coastlines.

With all the benefits that oysters bring, it’s no wonder that we want more of them in the Bay, especially since oyster populations have plummeted from their historical levels. In fact, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), US Army Corps of Engineers, Virginia Commonwealth University’s Rice Rivers Center, Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program, Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC), and many other organizations are working to restore oyster populations in the Chesapeake Bay, including the Piankatank River. Collectively, the effort is the largest oyster restoration project in the world!

Oyster restoration partners are hard at work toward the goal of restoring ten Chesapeake Bay rivers by 2025. They also want to engage communities in the process to understand the importance of oysters, celebrate restoration milestones, and recruit their support in long-term success.

Green Fin Studio worked with Virginia oyster restoration partners to develop two new permanent signs that explain the restoration process, how oysters help communities and how people can help oysters. The signs were just installed at the Deltaville Maritime Museum and Holly Point Nature Park overlooking the Piankatank River.

Visit the museum for a fun day of education and exploration, or click on the image to see a larger image.