The Eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica, has held a long history as a commercially and ecologically important species in the Delaware Bay. Today, oyster production is severely inhibited by disease. Although oyster stocks have been significantly affected by disease, habitat loss, and in some cases, over-harvesting, the eastern oyster remains an integral part of the Delaware Estuary. This pamphlet highlights the history of oyster harvesting and the importance of Eastern oysters in the Delaware Estuary.