Virginia Oyster Month

By virtue of the authority vested by the Constitution of Virginia in the Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, there is hereby officially recognized:

Virginia Oyster Month

WHEREAS, Virginia is one of the nation's largest seafood producers, the largest seafood producer on America's East Coast, and the number one oyster producer on the East Coast; and

WHEREAS, the average dockside value for Virginia's wild and farmed oysters is over $45 million annually; and

WHEREAS, oysters are a critical component of the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem as a single adult oyster can purge 50 gallons of water a day; and

WHEREAS, gardening and promulgation of oysters, combined with the ongoing restoration projects on our wild public harvest areas, increases the overall number of shellfish that help clean the water and serve as habitat for other marine life; and

WHEREAS, Virginia is home to eight different regions of oysters, each with their own taste, history, and heritage; and

WHEREAS, history has shown that oysters were a vital food resource during the founding of our nation by early North American settlers, and their shells were used in building construction at Jamestown; and

WHEREAS, oyster farming, also known as aquaculture, is a booming industry in Virginia and is celebrated in numerous festivals, included in museums, and served in a variety of styles in restaurants across the nation;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Glenn Youngkin, do hereby recognize November 2024, as VIRGINIA OYSTER MONTH in our COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of all our citizens.