The oyster is an international delicacy, but since the late 1800s, overharvesting, parasites such as Dermo and MSX, and pollution have severely depleted oysters stocks in the Bay, which is one of the country's foremost oyster producers. Another important mollusk that comes from the Bay is the hard clam , found primarily in the higher salinity waters of the Bay. Their spawning cycles are greatly affected by water temperatures and the availability of food. Crabs and shellfish share habitat and consequently respond to similar fluctuations in its quality. Oysters need clean surfaces on which to attach and are affected by increased sedimentation, which can smother spat or mature oysters.
Clams also are vulnerable to toxins in the sediment.