A number of studies have demonstrated apositive correlation between oyster aquaculture and the presence ofinfaunal and epifaunal communities, including populations ofecologically and economically important fauna.In response to the drastic decline in oyster populations, conservationorganizations in the coastal eastern states have developed communityculturing programs, commonly referred to as 'oyster gardening', to helpmitigate the loss of oyster populations. The cultured oysters andgear may also provide important habitat for fish, mobile crustaceans, anda variety of other species. Oysters grown in aquaculture gear provide many of the sameecological services as natural or restored reefs. Diminishedoyster abundances and the critical ecosystem services they provide maylead to a negative cascading effect on the entire estuarine environment.The culture of the eastern oyster in containment gear has become avaluable tool not only of commercial aquaculture but also for restorationprograms throughout many states along the East Coast of the UnitedStates. Increased sedimentation and runoff resulting eutrophicationand subsequent hypoxia caused by ever-increasing land use anddevelopment have impacted the eastern oyster throughout their range.Dermo and MSX diseases caused massive mortality in the past andcontinue to suppress recovery of eastern oyster populations. This decline is often attributed to anthropogenicactions including overharvesting, habitat degradation, and reduction inwater quality.

Oysters drive benthic-pelagiccoupling as they filter suspended particles from the water and theirdeposits enrich benthic communities and increase carbon sequestration.Their bioactivity and structure creation leads to a greater abundance anddiversity of other aquatic species.A dramatic decline in the eastern oyster populations of the Mid-Atlantic and Gulf Coast of the United States has been well documentedsince the late 1800s.

Oyster reefs provide valuable habitatfor many ecologically and economically important species, as well asstabilizing benthic and intertidal habitats. The eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica, is a keystone species withthe well-documented ability to provide ecological services, environmentalenrichment, and commercial value. Our results help to understand the role of oyster aquaculture in restoring the viability in the natural habitat of the Delaware Inland Bays.

Dominant polychaetes families were Capitellidae and Glyceridae contributing to more than 70% of polychaetesвЂ™ number of individuals. Similarly, the values of polychaetes abundance and species richness did not change significantly in samples that were taken far from the oyster gears. Results showed that the Ulva lactuca bloom that happened in 2016 could negatively impact the low abundance and richness observed in the polychaetes community. The number of polychaetes and species richness was significantly higher in Little Assawoman Bay in comparison to the Indian River and Rehoboth Bays. No significant impact was detected on polychaetesвЂ™ abundance and richness in regard to the presence of oyster gears. We aimed to assess the impact of Eastern oyster farming under different stocking densities (50 and 250 oysters/gear) and distances away from the sites where the off-bottom gears are implemented (under gears, one meter, and five meters away). In this study, water quality parameters were measured and polychaetes were collected from 24 sampling locations at Rehoboth, Indian River, and Little Assawoman Bays from July to October 20. Oyster aquaculture is one of several methods for the restoration of Delaware Inland Bays however, little is known about its potential impacts on the benthic community of the bays.

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