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

WHEREAS, Virginia harvests hundreds of thousands of bushels of oysters each year from both wild stocks and privately leased aquaculture grounds; and

WHEREAS, the dockside value for Virginia’s wild and farmed oysters averages more than 40 million dollars annually, supporting watermen, aquaculture growers, shucking houses, and seafood businesses throughout the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, oysters are a critical component of the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem, as a single adult oyster can filter up to 50 gallons of water a day, improving water quality and providing vital habitat for other marine species; and  

WHEREAS, oyster gardening and propagation, together with restoration of public harvest areas, increase the number of shellfish that help clean the Bay and strengthen its ecological health; and

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

WHEREAS, Virginia’s oyster industry continues to strengthen the Commonwealth’s economy and coastal communities, supporting jobs, tourism, and the preservation of a proud maritime heritage;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Glenn Youngkin, do hereby recognize November 2025 as VIRGINIA OYSTER MONTH in the COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of all our citizens.