The decline of the native eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica, in the Chesapeake Bay has had both economic and ecological consequences on the surrounding community. Ecologically, oysters are not only ecosystem engineers, but also keystone species within their community, meaning that without them, other organisms are significantly affected. Economically, oysters are a valuable commodity, which has led to a considerable deterioration in oyster populations. Overexploitation and habitat destruction can be attributed to large reductions in the oyster population. A sharp decline in oyster populations leads to a loss of the ecosystem services they provide, which negatively affects the Chesapeake Bay. Due to this reduction, various strategies have been implemented to revive the oyster population. For decades, the delights of oysters have been so beloved around the world that a large portion of the world's oysters come from America, and specifically the Chesapeake Bay. Oysters are truly a hot commodity in the northeastern United States, as they are collected for food and lime, and they also provide a way of life for many fishermen and their families. Unfortunately, large-scale overexploitation, destruction of oyster reefs, and disease have all contributed to the loss of oyster populations. Where there were once 20 million bushels of oysters in the late 1800s, by the end of the 20th century there were fewer than 20,000 bushels (Brumbaugh et al.). According to Airoldi, Laura et al. estimate that 85% of oyster reefs have disappeared globally. The expansion of cities has led to a direct loss of habitat for oysters, with reefs being demolished to allow access for commercial vessels (Airoldi, Laura et al.). Likewise, mechanical dredging, a technique still used today to dig up oysters...... middle of paper ...... accelerates the rate of animals due to the lack of oxygen in the water. As reported by Cerco, CF and Noel, MR, argue that an increase in the oyster population could significantly improve the water quality of the estuary. Experimental results indicate that removal of solids from the water column by oysters can increase the activity of benthic microalgae, thereby altering sediment-water nutrient exchange and sediment diagenetic processes (Newell et al. 2002 ; Porter et al. Oyster restoration can increase nitrogen removal by 20% to 50% through denitrification and sediment retention. Calculated surface chlorophyll is reduced by 30% for a tenfold increase in oyster density and is reduced by half when oysters are restored to their historical density (Cerco, CF and Noel, MR). Overall, oyster restoration can be seen as a means to address cultural eutrophication in the Chesapeake Bay..