Oyster planting season is off to a strong start, with nearly 200 million young oysters planted in sanctuary reefs and more than 146,000 bushels of shell, 6,000 bushels of wild oyster seed, and 27 million oysters planted on public harvest grounds through the end of May.
These efforts help rebuild oyster populations throughout the Chesapeake Bay, creating habitat for fish and crabs, improving water quality, and supporting Maryland’s seafood industry.
To date, sanctuary restoration work has focused on the Nanticoke and Chester rivers, with additional projects planned in the Wye, St. Mary’s, Tred Avon, Patuxent, and mid-Bay tributaries this year.
Restoration work in public harvest areas will continue throughout the summer, helping replenish oyster populations and maintain productive harvest grounds. Upcoming projects include substrate plantings using oyster shell and alternative materials such as recycled crushed concrete, along with continued spat-on-shell plantings throughout the season. A major focus this year will be restoration efforts in the Eastern Bay region.
Looking ahead, restoration priorities also include developing an updated oyster restoration plan for the Severn River as part of the Severn Whole Watershed Partnership. A comprehensive survey of oyster habitat in the river is wrapping up this month and will help identify where future restoration efforts can have the greatest impact.
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