The Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) conducts surveys of oyster spatfall (or setting ) in Virginia waters throughout the summer reproductive period. This survey provides an estimate of the potential of a particular area for receiving a strike or set of oysters on the bottom and helps define the timing of setting events. Information obtained from this effort is valuable to the Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC) for its shell repletion program, and to private oyster growers, both of which are interested in maximizing the timing of shell planting. In addition, by maintaining a long-term data base, trends in spatfall throughout the lower Chesapeake Bay can be monitored. This in turn provides an index of the general health of the Bay. · Bi-weekly updates of spatfall data are provided to interested parties throughout the summer. This report summarizes data collected during the entire 1991 setting season
