Cape Charles Mirror Report – Wayne Creed
On the Eastern Shore, as we continue to grapple with economic development issues, one shining light has been the success of our aquaculture industry. For those that grow oysters, they have one perceived nemesis, the cownose ray, or the Chesapeake Bay Stingray. Cownose rays, left to their devices can ravage oysters planted in underwater farms. Due to the ray’s avarice for oysters, some aquaculture advocates have started a campaign to reduce ray populations by leveraging commercial fishing: “Eat a Ray, Save the Bay.” The push to control rays has resurrected another Chesapeake Bay pastime, bow fishing. People use a bow and arrow to shoot rays from a boat.
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