The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has awarded $800,000 to Maryland to help restore the Chesapeake Bay;s oyster population.

From Senator Cardin’s Press Release,

The DNR will use these federal dollars to produce and plant 1.5 billion hatchery seeds in three years and applying consistent monitoring protocols to evaluate project performance. The State of Maryland and its partners are undertaking a synchronized oyster recovery effort. This project continues implementation of the bay wide strategy to restore oysters, as identified in Executive Order 13508 strategy to implement President Obama’s 2009 Chesapeake Bay Executive Order.

Read the press release for more information.