October 13, 2013 — Maryland officials are heralding progress on the state’s Oyster Restoration and Aquaculture Development Plan, emphasizing record oyster spat production in the last year.
“Four years ago, we proposed a bold plan with better choices to rebuild our oyster population, its vital ecological functions and the thriving industry it once supported,” Gov. Martin O’Malley said Friday at an event at the Annapolis Maritime Museum.
“Today we celebrate significant progress under every step of our 10-point plan and the many partners responsible for it,” O’Malley said.
Officials said some 1.25 billion baby oysters have been planted on beds in sanctuaries, at aquaculture operations, in volunteer oyster growing buckets and in cages hanging from piers around the Chesapeake Bay.
Most of the spat — 750 million — were planted at the state’s Harris Creek oyster sanctuary, off the Choptank River above Tilghman Island. There the state, along with federal and private partners, hopes to create a great oyster incubator.
The entire creek has been cordoned and some $30 million is due to be spent to create suitable conditions.
When fully improved, the sanctuary’s 377 acres will be planted with shell and spat, making it the largest such operation on the East Coast, Department of Natural Resources officials said.
Read the full story at the Capital Gazette