Public Information and Education
CZM Education Has International Appeal
Omar Visits Japan!
Omar of the Reef, official mascot of the Virginia CZM Program’s oyster restoration and gardening efforts, was formally invited to assist with public relations at the April U.S.-Japan Oyster Reef Symposium in Chiba Prefecture, Japan.
The collaborative Symposium focused on the ecological value of natural oyster reef habitat. Dr. Mark Luckenbach, VIMS, presented at the Symposium on Virginia’s natural reef systems. Research on oysters in Japan has historically focused on commercial oyster aquaculture. But the discovery of an oyster reef in Tokyo Bay has sparked the interest of the Japanese public and scientists in the value of wild oysters.
Japanese researcher Urara 
Takashima, who organized the Symposium, visited Virginia in the spring of 2006 after learning more about Virginia CZM’s oyster restoration efforts. Ms. Takashima returned with educational materials, including tattoos of Omar. At the behest of school children, who thought Omar needed a Japanese friend, she created “Kaki-hime”, or “princess oyster”.
The story does not end there! After Ms. Takashima returned to Japan, she shared a copy of our Virginia Oyster Gardening Guide with Katsunori Tanaka, member of a Japanese environmental non-profit, who then translated the guide into Japanese. His organization is conducting environmental programs to improve Toyko Bay, including growing oysters, clams, and seaweed.
It is an Oystercatcher!
The Oystercatcher, featured prominently on the Virginia CZM Program logo, is a species of conservation concern. The barrier islands on the seaside of Virginia's Eastern Shore support the largest number of breeding Oystercatchers on the east coast!
Help protect these coastal birds! Be a responsible coastal ecotourist and respect shorebird foraging and nesting colonies! Go to: www.deq.state.va.us/coastal/seaside/wildlife.html to learn more.
Photo by Alex Wilke, The Nature Conservancy.
How Well is Coastal Zone Management Protecting Virginia's Coast?
NOAA' Findings of the 2006 Evaluation of the Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program
Download NOAA Findings (pdf)
Coastal Publication Highlights:
Become An Oyster Gardener!
Virginia CZM Program Oyster Gardening Page - download the new Virginia Oyster Gardening Guide to learn how!
Virginia Coastal Zone Management Magazine
Spring/Summer 2007 Virginia Coastal Zone Management Magazine (PDF, 144 dpi)
For more coastal publications go to...
Coastal Calendar Highlight...
2007 James River Sojourn
June 16-23, 2007
Registration Now Open!
For more calendar and public notice dates go to...
Coastal Stewardship Opportunities...
What Is Your Ecological Footprint? Learn Ways to Reduce Your Individual Impact to our Environment! Go to www.vanaturally.com/footprint.html
Think of all the things you could do this spring instead of fertilizing your lawn!
The Chesapeake Club campaign urges Bay watershed residents to hold off on fertilizing their lawns until the fall, when rainstorms are less frequent and the ground is better able to absorb nutrients contained in fertilizer. This helps protect the Bay's remaining blue crab population, which has been declining in recent years.
To help save the seafood, Chesapeake Club offers yard care tips so you can create a blue crab-friendly lawn. And if you'd rather leave it up to the professionals, there are a growing number of lawn care providers offering the Chesapeake Club standard of yard care.
Are You a Shoreline Landowner?
Learn more about how you can protect your shoreline from erosion while preserving its habitat benefits through Living Shorelines! Visit the Virginia CZM Living Shorelines web page.
Have You Celebrated the 400th Anniversary? Why not explore a part of the new Captain John Smith Historical Trail and learn more about what our incredibly rich and unique coastal resources! Click below to start your journey...
And for even more ideas go to...
