Oyster reef restoration in Virginia has been a partnership between the Virginia Marine Resources Commission Shellfish Conservation Division led by Dr. Jim Wesson and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) since the early 1990s. As of May 2005, over 80 oyster reefs had been built in Virginia waters of the Chesapeake Bay. Many of these oyster reefs are monitored regularly as part of the VIMS Molluscan Ecology oyster monitoring program. Site information for specific reef sites which are regularly monitored is available by clicking on the reef location in the map at the right.