Bringing Back Maryland's Oysters

Our native oyster is critical to the Bay’s ecology and the State’s economy. Sadly, this essential filter feeder and seafood industry superstar has languished at 1 percent of its historic population for decades, decimated by overfishing, habitat degradation and disease.

But today there is new hope for the beleaguered mollusk. In 2010 under Governor Martin O’Malley’s leadership, the State of Maryland adopted a 10-Point Oyster Restoration and Aquaculture Development Plan to rebuild our native oyster population and the industry it supports. Just four years later, we are seeing progress in every area of the plan.

In a critical early step, a team of federal, state and private experts worked together to assess existing oyster habitat, define recovery areas and prioritize tributaries with the greatest potential for oyster growth. With this information in hand, the State expanded its sanctuary program, increasing areas closed to harvest from 5% to 24% of the best remaining oyster bars.

This work not only set the stage for restoring 377 acres in Harris Creek– the largest undertaking of its kind; Harris Creek and other newly created sanctuaries are also providing an arena for developing natural disease resistance.
To support a more targeted, scientifically-managed and sustainable wild fishery, commercial harvesters are now self-reporting for the first time in Maryland history and scientists are examining the potential use of harvest targets to rebuild populations on public bars. Preliminary harvest reports for 2013-14 have already surpassed 400,000 bushels – with a dockside value in excess of $13 million — the highest in at least 15 years.

Further enhancing economic opportunity, 98 new shellfish aquaculture leases have been issued on 1,828 acres since 2011; 49 of these have been issued to watermen and another 59 lease applications are under review at DNR. Aquaculture remains the predominant means of shellfish harvesting around the world, and these new and growing businesses are creating jobs here at home.

These successes prove that restoring oysters to fulfill their historic ecological role and rebuilding their economic value can occur at the same time.

Escalating hatchery production to provide spat (baby oysters) for sanctuaries and aquaculture efforts, our Horn Point facility produced a record 1.25 billion oyster spat last year, more than double our production in 2008 and a record for one season of native oyster production in a hatchery. With the cooperation of Mother Nature, we are on target to produce even more this year with the ultimate goal of reaching 2 billion annually.

To increase citizen involvement, both in understanding and active stewardship, Governor O’Malley’sMarylanders Grow Oysters Program has itself grown, from 1 tributary in 2008 to 30 rivers and creeks this year, engaging thousands of citizens and non-governmental partners who assist in coordinating this effort. With new participants coming on board each year, this effort is showing how committed Maryland residents are to helping oysters and the Bay.

Gaining work skills, confidence and respect for the Bay’s resources, Maryland inmates are also playing a significant role, building oyster growing cages and helping support the production of spat and seed oysters. Working with hatchery staff, the inmates are able to deliver as many as three million spat on a good day.

Finally, a suite of changes to law enforcement operations are helping us protect the populations we are working so hard to rebuild. An innovative new deterrent to poaching is the Maritime Law Enforcement Information Network, a system of radars and cameras that enhances the ability of Natural Resources Police to monitor and patrol Maryland waters, including our significant sanctuary investments. Augmented by a new aviation monitoring partnership with the Maryland State Police, increased administrative penalties, and stand-alone natural resources court dates in 18 counties, these tools are helping deter those who would steal from the public trust.

Governor O’Malley’s Plan was designed to simultaneously help restore the Chesapeake Bay, bring back our native oyster, and create new jobs and economic activity in our State. And while all of these efforts are still underway — and a true population recovery will take years, if not decades – the Plan is working.

Dr. Don “Mutt” Meritt
Director of the Shellfish Hatchery program
University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science
Horn Point Laboratory