Ever since cownose rays were seen gobbling up many of the oysters in a newly restored oyster bed, commercial and environmental growers have been looking for a way to protect their investment from the predator, which is native to the Chesapeake Bay.  Proposed management strategies have covered everything from putting up underwater fences around shellfish beds to opening a commercial cownose ray fishery.

Robert Fisher, Virginia Sea Grant Fisheries Specialist at VIMS, has been investigating many of the management options. His basic biological research contains data that will help marine resource managers understand the ray and could help determine special considerations managers should take if a fishery is initiated. Fisher has also collaborated with others to find non-lethal deterrents to keep rays out of shellfish beds. 

Video
"Cownose rays can break apart large oyster clusters." Bob Fisher, 2010. YouTube.
"Cownose rays shown using specialized fins to capture oysters." Bob Fisher, 2010. YouTube.

Photos
Virginia Sea Grant Cownose Ray Photo Collection on Flickr

News
"Eating rays may save the Chesapeake Bay." CNN, 2010.
"Everybody Loves Ray?" Bob Fisher and Dean Grubbs, 2007. Virginia Marine Resource Bulletin.
"Bay Battle: Ray Vs. Oyster Tussle Now on Menu" AP Press. YouTube.
VIMS covers Robert Fisher’s research

Papers & Reports
Fisher, Robert. 2010. “Life History, Trophic Ecology, and Prey Handling by Cownose Ray, Rhinoptera bonasus, from Chesapeake Bay.”  Report to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

• Front Matter
• Age and Growth
• Age of Maturation
• Life History in the Chesapeake Bay
• Feeding Ecology in the Chesapeake Bay
• Prey Handling Behaviors
• Reproductive Anomalies
• References

Fisher, Robert (ed.) 2009. “Regional Workshop on Cownose Ray Issues: Identifying Research and Extension Needs, Yorktown, VA, June 1-2, 2006”

Robert A. Fisher, Garrett C. Call and R. Dean Grubbs. 2011. “Cownose ray (Rhioptera bonasus) predation relative to bivalve ontogeny.” Journal of Shellfish Research, 30 (1) 187-196.

Fisher, R.A. and E.M. Stroud. 2006. “An Evaluation of the Behavioral Responses of Rhinoptera bonasus to Permanent Magnets and Electropositive Alloys.”