Marylanders and their cages of oysters

How can we get started?

Most of Maryland’s oyster gardening programs are centered around the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. I would encourage to reach out to the Delaware Center for the Inland Bays, who runs a similar program throughout the Bethany and Rehoboth areas. If they cannot accommodate you, they may have additional recommendations for whom you should contact. Please visit their website: https://www.inlandbays.org/projects-and-issues/all/oyster-gardening/ for more information and their contact is oysters@inlandbays.org.

Is there any oyster cage programs in st. martins river coastal bays areas of ocean city ocean pines Worcester county

Excellent work and a great way to raise awareness. Our small community has several docks and sea walls where similar could be done. I was thinking about using old crab traps partially filled with clean shell and a few live adult oysters. Hoping the adults would proliferate and the young attach to the shell in the trap. Not certain spat would be available in our area. Thoughts?

Hello Dawn,

Most of the time, oysters are picked up as spat in the fall to grow under the guidance of someone like you, then collected at the end of May or beginning of June to be planted on a reef. The local sponsor for your area may have some oysters still available at this time of the year - the best thing to do would be to ask Marylanders Grow Oysters. This link can answer some of your initial questions on getting started. Eric Campbell, the Marylanders Grow Oysters program manager, can help you to get involved in your local area. You can contact him at eric.campbell@maryland.gov. Good luck with your new oysters!

Is it too late to take some of the spats to grow for this season?

One oyster filters fifty gallons of water a day! A little service and stewardship goes a long way. Thanks to everyone that helps clean the Bay!