Scientists are planting 30 million oysters in the Chesapeake Bay to restore water quality and marine life in one of America's largest restoration projects

Millions of tiny oysters are being returned to the Chesapeake Bay in an ambitious conservation effort that scientists hope will transform one of the United States' most important estuaries. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF), in partnership with the Severn River Association, recently planted three million juvenile oysters in a protected sanctuary reef in Maryland's Severn River, bringing the total planted under the project to 19 million. The organisations aim to reach 30 million oysters by the end of 2026 as part of a three-year restoration initiative. The project is designed to improve water quality, rebuild marine habitats and strengthen the bay's natural resilience after decades of environmental decline.Why are scientists planting 30 million oysters in the Chesapeake Bay?The latest planting took place on 23 July 2026, when conservationists released around three million baby oysters, known as spat, into a sanctuary reef near the mouth of the Severn River in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. The effort is being led by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and the Severn River Association, with financial support from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.So far, the project has reached 1...