NOBLE WILD OYSTER ALLIANCE
Do It the Wild Way!
ABOUT US
We are the Noble Wild Oyster Alliance. We need your help.
The Native Americans named the Chesapeake Bay “Chesipiouk,”; it means “Great Shellfish Bay”. Oysters are the foundation of the Bay and just like our homes it must have a suitable foundation. While we individually maintain our homes, it takes an entire community to sustain our Bay. We all must take an active role to sustain our region’s natural heritage ensuring its continued health for generations to come.
The mission of the Noble Wild Oyster Alliance is to increase the visibility and understanding of how to sustain the bay’s health using its own natural resources, both oyster shell and naturally reproduced oyster seed. We will accomplish this by partnering with all who benefit from the bay, to include the commercial fishery industry, recreational users, and our local and state government offices. Our main focus is on how incredibly essential our natural oysters are to the Chesapeake Bay; the wild oysters that have sustained it.
Our state has invested millions of dollars to enhance the health of our Bay. These efforts are well-intentioned; however, not all of those efforts are sustainable and will continue to have rippling impacts to the bay and its future. Specifically, the two areas of major concern are the planting in unproductive areas and using sterile oysters known as Triploids.
Our goal is to raise the funds and support necessary to increase the purchase and planting of wild shell and oyster seed back into our Bay. For several years now, a large portion of funds received from the state and federal governments has gone to the oyster farming industry; an industry that has concentrated efforts on sterile oysters (Triploids). While these oysters do filter the water like a natural oyster, they do not breed, thus don’t contribute seed into the ecosystem.
Our founder, Brian Hite, a full-time waterman sees the great potential in our wild oyster beds. He is passionate about bringing them back to help our oysters thrive in their natural environment. His vision is to focus our efforts on maintaining the foundation of the bay, truly a noble cause using the natural reproducing oyster to maintain and improve our Bay, its tributaries and heritage.
OUR MISSION
We believe wild oysters are better oysters. For the benefit of the consumer and the benefit of the Bay. Noble WOA sustains the integrity of the Bay and enables consumers access to wild oysters through purposeful harvesting. One of the major barriers to better oysters and a less disrupted ecosystem is farm harvesting using sterile oysters known as triploids. The farm-raised oyster’s inability to breed will have rippling impacts to the bay’s sustainability for generations to come. We address this barrier head-on by sustaining the health of the Bay using its own natural resources: oyster shell and naturally reproduced oyster seed. Every oyster shell and reproductive seed planted creates a new opportunity for a less modified, more natural oyster and sustained Bay for years to come. Today’s efforts are not enough. All proceeds made from Noble WOA merchandise will be used to purchase oyster shell and natural reproductive seed to be planted back in our Chesapeake. We are also currently finalizing our non-profit, which will also be used for strictly buying and planting these natural resources back into the Chespeake.
OUR VISION
Millions of people around the world could get access to purer oysters while maintaining the integrity of the Bay’s natural ecosystem. By partnering with all who benefit from the bay - from the commercial fishery industry, recreational users, and local and state governments - we dream of a thriving bay and better oyster for all. Your donation is an important catalyst. Help maintain the integrity of your oyster and the Bay by donating today to help with increased planting of natural shell and reproducing seed. Our vision is to focus our efforts on maintaining the foundation of the bay – the natural reproducing oyster as it is truly a noble cause to sustain our Bay.
