Aquatic reef creation and restoration progress Types and functions of aquatic reefs. Aquatic reefs have an important ecological role in Chesapeake Bay.
Aquatic reefs provide essential habitat for the Bay's oysters, as well as finfish and crabs.
Historically, reefs of densely packed individual oysters grew upward and outward, creating hard surface over many acres of Bay bottom and three-dimensional habitat for bay creatures. Reef acreage has been lost to harvest pressure, silting, oyster diseases, pollution. Harvesting techniques have reduced many three-dimensional reefs to flat surfaces. The Chesapeake Bay Program is committed to the restoration and creation of aquatic reefs. In 1994, Bay Program signatories adopted goals and The Chesapeake Bay Aquatic Reef Habitat Plan for the creation of new oyster reef habitat which will guide the enhancement, protection, and restoration of benthic aquatic reefs.