We love to eat them, but as estuary inhabitants, shellfish provide a lot of additional value! One way: clams and oysters feed by filtering the water they live in, helping remove excess nitrogen by taking in phytoplankton that use nitrogen in the water to grow. However, they may also take in contaminants. We will show the difference shellfish can make to water quality (and more), but in turn, the need to protect water quality of our waterways so shellfish can thrive and function, fuel local economies, and provide sustainable and delicious food.