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Virginia oyster and clam aquaculturists are gaining a reputation nationally for growing high quality farmed shellfish. The state's farm raised oysters and clams are known for uniformity, size, health, and nutritional content.

In January 2011, the Virginia Marine Resources Commission is expected help boost the state's shellfish aquaculture industry by approving the creation of 15 new Aquaculture Opportunity Zones in state waters.

The zones are located in the Rappahannock River, in the tributaries of Mobjack Bay, and around Tangier Island, and total 1,004.3 acres. Roughly half of the total zone acreage is near Tangier.

"These are excellent locations for the farming of oysters and clams in on-bottom cages," said Doug Domenech, Virginia’s Secretary of Natural Resources. "Shellfish have an amazing ability to purge the water, which will help clean the Bay, and the economic benefits from an expanded aquaculture industry are potentially quite substantial. This is a win-win." A single adult oyster can filter up to 60 gallons of water a day.

In addition to commercial oyster farms, small scale oyster gardens help filter Virginia's estuaries. These small communities of oysters and other shellfish are tended by environmentally concerned citizens on privately owned property.