By Loren Anne Barnett
“Natural spat,” Choptank Riverkeeper Matt Pluta said, “would be my guess as
to why they’re here.” We were on the Choptank River east of Tilghman Island
heading north towards Harris Creek. Near us, one of a few in the remaining fleet
of working skipjacks was dredging for oysters just south of Maryland’s first fully
restored oyster sanctuary. “Ground zero for oyster restoration,” Matt called it.
The natural spat, baby oysters spawned from the reef, growing nearby are just
one bonus. Reefs also support other Bay animals like fish and crabs. “Just looking
around,” Matt added, “you can see all the workboats still crabbing late in the
season near the sanctuary, reaping some of the benefits.”
Knapps Narrows separates Tilghman Island from the mainland and
continues west from the drawbridge to the Chesapeake Bay.
LOREN ANNE BARNETT/CBF STAFF
Tilghman Island,
Maryland
Shaped Water bythe
