CBOCS Conferences

Chesapeake Oyster Alliance Fall 2022

Sue Alexander, Director of CBOCS, attended the fall conference of the Chesapeake Oyster Alliance, a division of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, in Virginia Beach, Virginia.   The conference was held at the Brock Environmental Center, one of the first buildings in the nation to embrace water and energy independence.   The center is home to the mobile oyster restoration center, regional environmental education programs and the Virginia Beach Public Schools Environmental Education programs. Three speakers engaged the conference.   Claire Neubert and Linda Hamm of Shored UP LLC, Hampton VA introduced us to their ecotourism business.  They conduct kayaking and walking tours of Hampton VA.   They also sponsored Shellabration – an event in downtown Hampton promoting oyster restoration in a format similar to our Taste of the Beaches with vendors and other sponsoring organizations. Leonard Nelson, CEO of Natrx Adaptive Infrastructure.   His company applies advanced technology to design shoreline erosion prevention systems and also manufactures oyster reef structures that serve dual purposes: protect against erosion as well as provide oyster restoration reefs. Isabella DeFrancesco of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation presented the final topic of the conference -using the CBF social media resources to encourage cooperative efforts and connect COA partners. Following the speakers, the COA attendees were given a behind-the-scenes tour of the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center, as well as a tour of their oyster reef in Owls Creek.